S-1141001_COMPLETO.pdf

"CAVENDO TUTUS."
APHORISMATA ENTOMOLOGICA.
NOTHING can be done in Entomology Avithout a good cabinet: this
should be the foundation stone. Have it made of old oak or mabogany,
either of these woods being well seasoned. It should be well and evenly
corked, with good soft cork, and glazed Avith good glass; tbe glasses
fitted in frames to take in and out. It should be made by some
person who is in the habit of making tbem, for the mode of fitting
the frames is not very easily explained on paper.
Let the drawers be about one foot nine inches long in front,
one foot six inches in Avidth, and two inches and a quarter in
depth, on the outside. They must be carefully papered at the bottom
and on the sides. This is always done in the first instance by the
maker. There must be a ledge placed for camphor, but it need not
go all round the inside of the drawer, as is generally the case; it will
be quite sufficient to have it on one side. This had better be the
front side, as then it is completely out of sight, and the drawer appears
without any detriment. There need be no holes cut in the front of
the ledge, for the scent of the camphor to pass through; the top of
the ledge being left open affords abundant escape for it.
Keep the cabinet in the dryest room in the house, and never let
it be placed against an outer Avail, but if possible against the part of
a wall that is behind a fireplace in an adjoining room. Mould must
be carefully aA-oided: it is thus totally prev T ented; but if otherwise suffered
to appear, cannot be cleared away without some injury to the specimens,
and will spread again unless thus checked. Keep the glasses on the
drawers as much as possible, both on account of the mites, and also
of the dust, whicl), if it settles upon the insects, must more or less
damage their appearance. Take, however, the glasses off every noAV
and then for a moment or two, or raise them, if ever so little; for
the fresh air admitted will help to keep off mould and damp. See
that the drawers of the cabinet run easily, otherwise the specimens will
be shaken by the jarring every time it is put in or taken out, and
the antenna? and bodies will be liable to be shaken off.