Insects. 2669 



about one-eighth of an inch wide and as long as necessary : upon each of these I 

 place as many specimens of a species as are required, cut off the pins nearly close to 

 the specimen with cutting plyers, and then fasten the whole into a cabinet by a small 

 pin (No. 10) at each end, the lower pin serving also to hold the label. Another inci- 

 dental advantage of this mode is the facility afforded for examination with a lens or 

 microscope, there being no long pin in the way, and no risk in removing from or to 

 the cabinet. — J. W. Douglas ; 2, Eton Grove, Lee, December 13, 1849. 



Grease in Lepidoptera. — In my cabinets I have had this great enemy much worse 

 than in the generality of collections (more than a third of my insects being affected), 

 and I am quite puzzled as to the cause of its being so bad, as the cabinets are in a 

 very diy situation, against a partition wall, and the room in which is the one con- 

 taining the diurnal Lepidoptera (but which aie affected quite as much as the Noctu- 

 idae) has a fire in it daily during the winter, so that damp cannot be the reason of it. 

 The drawers of all the cabinets (except one, which has the bottoms of the drawers 

 made of deal) are made of cedar, and the fronts of all are rosewood. I am told it is 

 on account of the drawers being made of cedar that the insects are so subject to the 

 grease : if this is so, is there any chemical preparation which could be applied to the 

 drawers to destroy the effect of the cedar on the insects ? Could any entomologist 

 give me some information or advice on these points, I should feel obliged. — H. Tomp- 

 kins ; School Hill, Lewes, Sussex, November 27, 1849. 



[My correspondent is mistaking the resinous exudation of the cedar for grease. 

 In this case there is no remedy ; but I consider the following advice, from a book 

 which I hope is in the hands of every entomologist, a sufficient caution. " A well- 

 made cabinet is of the greatest importance, and is not to be obtained without some 

 difficulty: every cabinet-maker will at once take your order, but what is called 

 tradesman-like acumen will prevent him doing you justice. Many parts of a cabinet 

 are not visible from the exterior, and it is almost impossible to persuade a tradesman 

 to use good or seasoned wood for those parts not in sight ; it is therefore absolutely 

 necessary to inspect the work while in progress, to examine the wood, and ascertain 

 that it is thoroughly seasoned : if the wood retains any sap it is of no use, as it inva- 

 riably warps, and thus prevents the drawers from moving, and the cabinets become 

 useless. Nothing but the best mahogany must be used : a great variety of wood has been 

 tried, particularly a kind of resinous cedar, which has a colour and grain much resem- 

 bling mahogany, but tvhich is far worse for cabinets than the most resinous deal : after 

 the cabinet has been a short time built, it will become saturated with resin, and all the 

 insects it contains will be speedily spoiled. Other cheap woods are also much in use, 

 and are veneered in front with mahogany, and the parts which are exposed on taking 

 out a drawer are smeared over with a brownish composition, to keep up the deception." 

 ' Familiar Introduction to the History of Insects,' * p. 120. — E. N.~] 



Occurrence of Colias Edusa and C. Hyale in the Isle of Wight. — Having noticed 

 the communication of my friend Mr. Bond (Zool. 2612) relative to Colias Edusa and 

 C. Hyale, and also the notes (Zool. 2546 and 2583) in respect to the septennial ap- 

 pearance of these interesting subjects of observation, I think it is due to Mr. Des- 

 vignes to state that — during many years of close attention — I never noticed so 

 abundant an appearance of Colias Edusa as that wbich occurred on the south side of 



* Van Voorst, Paternoster Kov 

 VIII 



