ON THE PRESERVATION OF ENTOMOLOGICAL 
CABINETS. 
BY JOHN L. LECONTE, M. D. 





















I wave tried at various times many experiments for the 
preservation of collections of insects, but with such limited 
success that I did not think the results obtained worth pub- 
lishing. For the sake of deterring others from pursuing 
these different lines of unsuccessful attempts, it would be 
useful, perhaps, to give a brief account of my failures be- 
fore describing a process recently devised, which seems to 
be both simple and effective. ; | 
Corrosive sublimate and various preparations of arsenic 
have been recommended by several high authorities. The » 
former, even when most diluted, will finally render the pin 
brittle by the amalgam developed; the latter, when used in 
à very weak alcoholic solution so as to leave no efflorescence 
on the specimens, will preserve them well, but is trouble- 
some to apply, as the insects must be thoroughly soaked 
with the fluid before being placed in the cabinet. Binar- 
Seniate of potassa being deliquescent, suggested itself to me 
às a material that might be applied in greater strength, and 
many years ago I prepared two boxes of specimens with it. 
They had a good appearance for some time, and have never 
been attacked, but eventually a considerable deposit or efo- 
rescence came on the surface, so that the specimens required 
cleaning before they could be used for study- i 
Painting the interior of the boxes with ařsenious acid was 
also only partially successful ; I have seen, though not often, 
living larvæ of Trogoderma in boxes thus prepared. 
Having thus failed in finding any satisfactory mineral poi- 
Son I then tried the vegetable alkaloids. : 
.. T soaked specimens in moderately strong alcoholic solu- 
lions of strychnia and picrotoxia, dried them, and "s them 
p (307) 


