SEC. X CARE OF A COLLECTION 85 



drawers, into whicli light shallow movable trays are fitted. These 

 trays never need be of stuff over one-eighth or one-fourth of an 

 inch thick, and may have bottoms of stiff pasteboard glued or 

 tacked on. They may vary from one-half inch to two inches in 

 depth, but this dimension should always be some factor of the 

 depth of the drawer, so that a certain number of trays may exactly 

 fill it. They should be just as long as one transverse dimension of 

 the drawer, and rather narrow, so that two or more are set side by 

 side. Finally, though they may be of different depths, they should 

 be of the same length and breadth, so as to be interchangeable. 

 They may simply rest on top of each other, or slide on separate 

 projections inside the drawer. Such trays are extremely handy 

 for holding particular sets of specimens, to be carried to the study 

 table without disturbing the rest of the collection. 



If a collection be so extensive that any particular specimen may 

 not be readily hunted up, it will be found convenient to have the 

 drawers themselves labelled with the name of the group within. 

 A collection should always be methodically arranged — preferably 

 according to some approved or supposed natural classification of 

 birds ; this is also the readiest mode, since, with some conspicuous 

 exceptions, birds of the same natural group are approximately of 

 the same size. If I were desired to suggest proportions for a private 

 cabinet of most general eligibility, I should say four feet high, by 

 three feet wide, by two feet deep, in the clear ; this makes a portly 

 yet not unwieldy-looking object. It is wide enough for folding- 

 doors, to be secured by bolts at top and bottom, and lock ; not so 

 high that the top drawer is not readily inspected ; and of propor- 

 tionate depth. Such a case will take seven drawers six inches deep 

 either of the full width or in two series with a median partition ; 

 these drawers will hold 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 by about a foot wide ; and 

 one or two tiers of deeper trays. 



To Destroy Insects. — In our present case prevention is not the 

 best remedy, simply because it is not always practicable ; in spite 

 of all mechanical precautions the insects will get in. We have, 

 therefore, to see what will destroy them, or at least stop their 

 ravages. It is a general rule that any pungent aromatic odour is 

 obnoxious to them, and that any very light pow;dery substance 

 restrains their movements by getting into the joints and breathing 

 pores. Both these qualities are secured in the ordinary insect 

 powder, to be had of any leading druggist. It should be lavishly 

 strewn on and among the skins, and laid in the corners of the 

 drawers and trays. Thus employed it proves highly effective, and 



