PRESERVING OF COLEOFTERA. 
107 
(two sizes will generally suffice—the larger one for the species 
which are to be stuck, the smaller for piercing through the 
cards); scissors, camel’s-bair brushes, and a pair of pliers; 
and, lastly, a drawer fitted up with a dozen or more thin 
frames of wood—which are packed one over the other; and 
on to each of which is glued a sheet of cardboard (of similar 
size), for the insects to be gummed upon promiscuously . 
It is the best plan to mount Coleoptera generally upon cards 
—at any rate all species smaller than (for instance) a liar - 
palus; since in this manner they are not only preserved for a 
far greater length of time than by the ordinary method (and 
are, moreover, much less subjected to breakages), but we 
avoid the corrosion which is so apt to take place upon the 
pin, and which is liable to accumulate to such an extent as, 
at last, to destroy the specimen in toto . Admitting therefore 
the advantage of this principle, both in theory and practice, 
let us make another observation. Those Entomologists who 
have commenced to adopt this “ card-system ” (as it may be 
termed) have usually fallen into error by cutting their cards 
first (no doubt for the sake of symmetry), and then forcing 
their insects as it. were to Jit them. Now this is obviously a 
mistake. Uniformity, it is true, is most desirable in a well- 
arranged collection ; but it is certainly not so important as 
that the specimens should be all properly expanded (legs and 
antennas to their natural length),—without either drawing 
them out, or contracting them in (as the case may be) be¬ 
yond what is right, to suit the respective spaces which we 
have beforehand allotted to them. It is clearly more con¬ 
sistent to adapt the card to the insect, than the insect to 
the card: and, such being the case, the above-mentioned 
running out. A single grain, however, of Corrosive Sublimate is suffi¬ 
cient for a very large quantity; and it is advisable to dissolve this grain 
in the water which is poured first upon the gum. 
