50 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 
but is not absolutely necessary ; the store-boxes can be obtained 
from a natural history dealer at a moderate cost. (I think Mr. 
EK. W. Janson, 35, Little Russell Street, London, W.C., would 
supply what is needed for about 3s. each, and which, though desti- 
tuteof glass covers, will withordinary care keep a collection in tole- 
rably good order). They can be arranged on a shelf like books, 
and if preferred they can be made so as to resemble books ; the 
boxes, however, will become more expensive when covered with 
cloth and lettered. Many collectors imagine that camphor pro- 
vides security against mites, the pests of naturalists. I would 
not recommend anyone to rely upon it alone ; no doubt it is use- 
ful, and if carefully attended to might go a long way towards 
keeping up an atmosphere inimical to such mischievous little 
creatures. A better plan is to immerse each insect in a bath of 
corrosive sublimate diluted to the required extent with alcohol. 
In order ‘to find out the proper proportions, take a common glossy 
black beetle, and drop a little of the solution upon it with a small 
brush ; when dry, notice if a slight film or silvery spot be formed, 
and if so add more alcohol; try again and again until no depo- 
sit can be seen when the beetle dries. I treat all my beetles in 
that way ; but, in addition, take care to keep a piece of sponge 
saturated with spirits of turpentine in every tray or bot. Beetles 
should be pinned through the right wing-case (elytron) in such 
a way that the point will pass through between the middle and 
hind legs ; but those that are fragile or too small for that opera- 
tion, should be mounted on slips of card-board. If it be desired 
to have a representative collection of the indigenous coleoptera 
that scarcely anyone would look at twice, stick the beetles on a 
piece of pointed cardboard with gum-arabic ; but if it be wished 
to get up a collection that can be referred to and examined with 
delight, and prove a source of pleasure to every lover of nature, 
the slovenly practice alluded to must be eschewed, and skill and 
unwearied assiduity take its place. 
The larger beetles when pinned may be secured to the setting- 
boards, care being taken that the pin does not project more than 
Y inch beyond the under side of the insect ; the limbs can then 
be placed in the desired positions, and be held there by means 
of small pins. In a week these small pins can be removed, and 
the insect pushed as far up on the pin as may be necessary. 
The manipulation of the minute species is much more diffi- 
cult, and if the insects have not been kept amongst bruised lau- 
rel, it will be almost impossible to move the legs, antenne, etc., 
without breaking them. I set out mine by means of a very fine 
needle stuck into a handle about three inches in length, or some- 
times with a fine camel-hair brush. The insect must be kept 
steady with a pair of small pliers held in the left hand ; it must 
be turned over on its back, and as the limbs are too small to be 
easily seen, a watchmaker’s glass should be used. When pro- 
perly expanded the beetle should be reversed, lifted up, and 
placed on the cardboard by damping one of the fingers. The 
first essay, most likely, will end in failure; practice alone will 
