
1869.] SENATE—No. 60. 29 
pods. Mr. B. P. Mann partly revised the North American 
Lepidoptera in alcohol. 
The arrival of the new insect boxes, enabled me to begin my 
work upon the entomological collections of dry specimens in 
November. The plan adopted for this portion of the articulate 
collection, is intended especially to fulfil the following condi- 
tions. 1. The whole collection is to be put up in such a way 
as to be secured as far as possible against the attacks of obnox- 
ious and destructive insects, and adapted at the same time, for 
scientific purposes and study. The collection should be made 
a standard collection for all time, remarkable for its mode of 
preservation, remarkable for its systematic arrangement, remark- 
able as far as possible for its correct identification of species. It 
should always be a safe and useful guide for every entomologist, 
especially for every American entomologist who desires to deter- 
mine his doubtful species; and, in short, it should form, in the 
highest sense, a national collection. To attain this end, the 
boxes and cabinets are ordered of the best quality and pattern. 
After careful consideration, we have adopted the fashion of cases 
_ used for the same purpose in the Berlin Museum, and approved 
after an experience of sixty years. A detailed description of 
the form of the boxes and cabinets, with certain improvements 
upon the original model, will perhaps be of interest hereafter. 
I may add that I have never seen insect boxes better made, 
than those furnished from Grant & Mann’s factory, for the use 
of the Cambridge Museum. 
2. The arrangement and ordering of the collection should 
agree in every respect with the comprehensive plan adopted by 
Prof. Agassiz, for all collections belonging to the Cambridge 
Museum. This plan, though easily understood for the other 
classes, may require some explanation as applied to the insects, 
because on account of the immense number of species, exceed- 
ing many times those of all other animals together, this class 
might seem to require some peculiar mode of treatment. The 
formation of the following collections is decided upon : — 
1. A systematic general collection, serving as a dictionary 
for science and students. 
2. A systematic collection for North American insects, 
intended especially for American entomologists and their pur- 
poses, and including typical specimens as much as possible. 
