FIELD AND FOREST. 43 



of Major Powell's Report on the Canons of the Colorado, and a vote 

 of thanks was passed. 



Oct. i8th, 187^, {igjd vieeting. ) 

 Dr. Schaeffer presented a very fine specimen of Copperhead, Agkis- 

 todon contotrix oi Yfhich. mention has already been made in these min- 

 utes. 



Mr. Ward then read a very interesting paper upon the Oaks of the 

 District, which will be found in another page. 



Nov. ist, 1815, {ig4th meeting.') 



Mr. Jouy presented 20 specimens of bird skins of the District. Prof. 

 Chickering presented specimens of lignite and the accompanying ter- 

 tiary strata from the excavation on North Capitol Street, also a snake 

 specimen. Mr. Dodge presented a case of insects. 



The paper of the evening was then read by Mr. Dodge, upon "The 

 arrangement of our Cabinet of Entomology." 



The various styles of cases for the preservation of the collection 

 may be reduced to two forms, that of drawers covered with glass, or 

 of closed boxes arranged like the volumes of a library. 



The first form is considered the best, as the specimens are not sub- 

 ject to the constant jar that the boxes are liable to in handling or ex- 

 amining, and besides always remain in one position, while the glass 

 cover protects from dust, or from, fingers, and canes and parasols. 



A convenient size is of drawer — that adopted by the Department of 

 Agriculture — is 16 by 21 inches and 2^ inches deep, outside meas- 

 urement. They are made of pine or whitewood ^ inches thick, dove- 

 tailed at the corners, with the bottom rabitted in ; the sides are made 

 of two pieces, forming the box proper, about i^ inches high, and a 

 cover one inch, which is grooved on the inner surface near the top 

 for the reception of a plate of glass, fastened in, when the box is made, 

 with putty. The cover and box where they fit together are tongued 

 and grooved, and are held together by small brass hooks and eyes on 

 either side. This is the form of case in use at the Museum of Com- 

 parative Zoology in Cambridge. 



The mechanical part of the arrangement of the insects was next 

 described, together with the most suitable form of case for holding the 

 drawers when filled and ready for the exhibition hall. 



Prof. Chickering called attention to the very unusual amount of au- 

 tumnal inflorescence. Kalmia latifoUa, Viola pedata, var. bicolor,zx\A 



