G48 INSECTS AT HOME. 



cheaply is out of tlie question. A ouinca per drawer is the 

 invariable Jarice of a cabinet, and it is impossible to buy one 

 for less than that sum. Now, as the British Beetles alone will 

 occupy from twenty-five to thirty drawers, and the British 

 Moths at least the same number, it is evident that if tlie col- 

 lector desires to put up all his insects in cabinets, lie will not 

 see nuich change out of a hundred pounds. 



It is useless even to look out for second-hand cabinets, for 

 they cost quite as much as if they were new ; and, indeed, any 

 practical entomologist would much rather buy an old cabinet 

 than a new one, because he would be sure that no part of it 

 would warp. There are very few joiners who know how to 

 make an entomological cabinet, and of these few it is almost 

 impossible to find one who will not use unseasoned wood in 

 those places where he thinks it will not be seen. 



I strongly recommend the young entomologist not to trouble 

 himself about cabinets, but to purchase some ordinary entomo- 

 logic boxes, the cost of which is comparatively trifiing, and 

 Ashich are just as efficacious as cabinets in the preservation of 

 insects. It is as well to label them on tlie back, so that a 

 glance will tell the owner which box he will need, when 

 he comes to put another insect in it. The two first boxes in 

 my own collection are thus labelled : — 



COLEOPTERA COLEOPTEKA 



1. 2. 



CICINDELA . . . AMARA. AMAHA . . . HTGROTUS. 



The best mode of arranging the insects in the drawers or 

 boxes appears to a novice to be a waste of time and space, and 

 to be considerably disheartening to boot. Complete lists, which 

 can be purchased at the professional naturalists, should be 

 obtained, cut up, and pinned or otherwise fastened to the iloor 

 of the boxes in regidar rows, a space being left between the 

 names for the insertion of the insects when they are obtained. 

 Of course, the spaces needed will depend very much on the 

 size of the insect, and the best plan is to leave room for four 

 rows of insects, two or three abreast, according to their size. 

 At first, the number of blanks is quite appalling, but after a 

 while the eye becomes familiarised to them, and then eacli 



