CABE OF A COLLECTION. 57 



it will be found convenient to have the drawers themselves labelled witli the name of the 

 group within. A collection should always be metliodically arranged — preferably according to 

 some approved or supposed natural classification of birds ; this is also tlie readiest mode, since, 

 with some conspicuous exceptions, birds of the same natural group are approxiniatfdy of tlic 

 sanu^ sice. If I were ilesired to suggest ])rop(u'tions for a private cabinet of most general 

 (digibility, I should say four feet high, by three feet wide, by two feet deep, in the clear; this 

 makes a portly yet not unwieldy locdving object. It is wide enough fjr fidding-doors, to be 

 seou-ed by bolts at top and bottom, and lock ; not so high that the top drawer is not readily 

 inspected ; and of propcu'tionate depth. Such a case will take seven drawers si.x inches dee]i 

 either of the full width, or in two scries Avith a meditm partition; these drawers will liold 

 anything up to an eagle or crane. A part of them at least should have a full complement of 

 such trays as I have described, — say three or four tiers of the shallower trays, three trays to a. 

 tier, each about two feet long l)y about a foot wide ; and one or two tiers fd' deeper trays. 



To Destroy Bugs. — In our present case prevention is not tlie best remedy, simply be- 

 cause it is h(]t always practicable; in s^dte of all mechanical precautions the bugs will get in. 

 We have, therefore, to see what will destrf)y them, or at least steip their ravages. It is a 

 general rule that any pungent aromatic odor is cdraoxions to them, and that any very light 

 powdery substance restrains their movements by getting into the joints and l>reathing p<]res. 

 Both these rpuilities are secured in the ordinary " insect powder,'' to be had id' any leading 

 druggist. It sliould be lavishly strewn on a.nd among tlio skins, and laid in the corners of the 

 drawers and trays. Thus employed it proves highly effective, and is on the whole the most 

 (digible substance to use when a collection is constantly handled. Camphor is a valuable agent. 

 Small fragments may be sti'ewn about the drawers, or a lump pinned in mosquito netting in a 

 corner. Benzine is also very useful. A small saucer full may be kept evaporating, or the 

 liquid may be sprinkled — even poured — directly over the skins ; it is very volatile and leaves 

 little or no .stain. It is, however, oliviously ineligilde when a c(dlection is in constant use. 

 iMy friend Mr. Allen informs me he has used sulphide of carbon with great success. Tlie 

 objection to this agent is, that it is a stinking poison ; should be used in the (qien air, to 

 escape the iuelfably liisgusting and deleterious odors, and its employ is pnqierly restricted to 

 cases for storage. When the bill or feet show they are attacked, further depredation may 

 be prevented by pencilling with a strcmg solution of corrosive sulilimate ; a M-eaker sidution, 

 one that leaves no white film, on drying, on a black feather, may even be brushed over the 

 whole plumage. Mr. Kidgway tells me that oil id bitter almonds is equally efficacious. But 

 remember that these poisons must be used with can'. Specimens may be buried in coarse 

 refuse tobacco leaves. One or anidher of these lines of defence will commonly prove successful 

 in desti'oying or driving ofi' uuiture insects, and even in stopjdng the ravages of the larva'; 

 but I doubt that any such means will kill the "nits.'' With these we nnist deal otherwise ; 

 and their destruction nn less that that of their parents is assured, if we subject them to a liigh 

 temperature. Baking bird-skins is i-eally the only process that can nuike us feel perfectly 

 safe. Infected specimens, along with suspected ones, should be subjected to a dry heat, from 

 212° F. up to any degree short of singeing the plumage. This is readily done by putting the 

 birds in a wooden tray in any oven — they must however be watched, unless you have special 

 contrivances for regulating the temperature. How long a time is required is probably not 

 ascertained with precision ; it will be wrW to bake for several hours. Wheu the beetles and 

 larvfe ai-e found completely parched, it may bi' confidently l)elieved that the unseen eggs are 

 i.'ut of the hatching way forever. 



Two Items. — One is, that arsenic helps to keep out the bugs, besides preventing decay 

 — a fact that should never be forgotten, and that .should give sharper edge to my advice 



