308 TlMEHRl. 
that the pifture is spoiled by being irregularly broken into 
two or three pieces. Dogs-eared books are very liable to 
be disfigured, as there is just enough space left by the fold 
to allow the smaller Lepisma to do its work. The scales 
of these inse6ls are very beautiful microscopic obje6ts, 
and are used as tests of the magnifying and defining 
power of good microscopes. Of the several kinds of 
book-pests mentioned, the cockroach and wood-ant 
prefer damp places, while, on the contrary, book-worms 
and Lepisma are more frequent in dry situations. 
Other kinds of insefts are found in the Library, such as 
spiders, centipedes, and scorpions ; these are carnivorous, 
and foes to cockroaches. It is not a very pleasant 
sensation to handle a scorpion, or to have a centipede 
crawling over your hand, when taking a book from its shelf* 
and therefore these may be destroyed, but spiders, espe- 
cially the large kinds, which are the tigers of the inse6l 
world, should be encouraged. As they spin no web 
there is nothing unsightly in their presence, while the 
number of cockroaches and other vermin they destroy 
is enormous. 
Whether a cloth or leather-bound book is most suitable 
for this climate is doubtful. If the former is used, it 
should be of a stronger texture than usual, and as before 
stated neither pasted nor dressed, otherwise than by 
rolling. Some kinds of thin leather (sheep and split 
skins) get a kind of dry rot very quickly and become quite 
brittle. A good calf binding is fairly durable, as is also 
morocco if poisoned. I always apply a solution of 
corrosive sublimate in spirit to all my books, whether 
cloth or leather. The strength is a quarter ounce to the 
pint of strong spirits, painted over back and sides. 
i 
