OF LEPIDOPTEEOUS INSECTS. 209 



These boards or shelves have necessarily the exact 

 dimensions of the ends of the chest, and are placed 

 in a vertical position ; a small vacancy is preserved 

 between their lower extremity and the floor, and 

 any object detached by accident falls to the bottom 

 without causing farther injury. Each board or 

 shelf, lined with cork or soft wood, supplies, in 

 some measure, the place of a cabinet drawer. 

 When taken out of the box and placed on a table, 

 it rests securely and affords a plain surface, upon 

 which insects may be fixed, or examined with per- 

 fect ease and security. It is returned into the box 

 in an instant, which, if carefully made, when 

 closed, secures most effectually the contents. One 

 large box may conveniently contain fourteen boards, 

 answering the purpose of as many drawers ; and, 

 being eighteen inches square, they are of a manage- 

 able size. Dr Horsfield found these boxes most 

 admirably adapted to his entomological pursuits 

 while in Java, and preferred those made of light 

 wood. He says, that when he commenced packing 

 for transportation, " boxes according to Levail- 

 lant's plan, were therefore provided of more sub- 

 stantial material than those employed in travelling, 

 in proportion to the increase of the collection. The 

 wood of the Bombax pentandrum was employed 

 for lining the boards and securing the pins ; and I 

 ascribed to an acquaintance with the peculiar pro- 

 perty of this wood, which renders it an effectual 



