266 



MY LIFE 



[Chap. 



us the cases in which he had brought home his large col- 

 lection of butterflies from Java. These were stout, oblong 

 boxes, about three feet long by two feet wide and two feet 

 deep. Inside these were vertical grooves, about two inches 

 apart, to hold the boards corked on both sides, on which the 

 insects were pinned. The advantages were that a large number 

 of specimens were packed in a small space, and at much 

 less cost than in store boxes, while any insects which should 

 accidentally get loose would fall to the bottom, where a small 

 vacant space was left, and do no injury to other specimens. 

 It seemed such an excellent plan that we had a case made 

 like it, and sent home our first collections in it ; but though 

 it answered its purpose it was very inconvenient, and quite 

 unsuited to a travelling collector. We therefore returned to 

 the old style of store box, which we got made in the country, 

 while a very good substitute for cork was found in some of 

 the very soft woods, or in slices of the midribs of palms. 



We were fortunate in finding an excellent and trustworthy 

 agent in Mr. Samuel Stevens, an enthusiastic collector of 

 British Coleoptera and Lepidoptera, and brother of Mr. J. C. 

 Stevens, the well-known natural history auctioneer, of King 

 Street, Covent Garden. He continued to act as my agent 

 during my whole residence abroad, sparing no pains to dispose 

 of my duplicates to the best advantage, taking charge of my 

 private collections, insuring each collection as its despatch was 

 advised, keeping me supplied with cash, and with such stores 

 as I required, and, above all, writing me fully as to the pro- 

 gress of the sale of each collection, what striking novelties it 

 contained, and giving me general information on the progress 

 of other collectors and on matters of general scientific interest. 

 During the whole period of our business relations, extending 

 over more than fifteen years, I cannot remember that we ever 

 had the least disagreement about any matter whatever. 



Mr. Bates' parents having kindly invited me to spend a 

 week with them before we sailed, we left London early in 

 April for Leicester, where I was very hospitably entertained, 

 and had an opportunity of visiting some of my old friends. I 

 also practised shooting and skinning birds ; and as the ship 



