GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FITTING UP A CABINET.

To those who delight in subjects of natural history, a good cabinet of insects is esteemed a valuable acquisition: if it be well constructed, and the several objects arranged with judgment, it certainly exhibits one of the most beautiful and admirable assemblages of objects in nature. Such, however, who are disposed to make a collection sufficiently extensive to form a complete one, will find it necessary to devote a great deal of time to the purpose, as well as to be endued with a considerable share of perseverance and ingenuity; those who are possessed of affluence will find it far less difficult to acquire one. The cabinet, to appear with that elegance which the subject deserves, should be of mahogany, well seasoned, and made by a good workman in such a manner that all the joints may fit with the greatest nicety; the form and size may be according to fancy, or the extent of the collection intended to be made.

To form a cabinet sufficiently capacious to receive specimens of all the English insects hitherto discovered, those excepted which, as before observed, are better preserved in spirits or between sliders, I would recommend one on the following plan:

The height may be about three feet four inches, the width two feet four inches, and the depth one foot four inches, inclosed with folding doors, and provided with a good lock. The inside to be partitioned down the middle, so as to admit of a range of twelve square drawers on each side; under these, two or three drawers may be fitted extending the whole width, to admit the larger kinds of insects, such as the sphinges, cancri, &c. the sides and backs of all these drawers should be of cedar, and the fronts mahogany, with a brass ring or button to each. The cork with which their bottoms are lined, must be chosen as free from cracks as possible, and, after being washed several times with a solution of corrosive sublimate in spirit of wine, to destroy the animalcula, glued on to prevent its warping. The whole surface must be made perfectly smooth and level, and this, as well as the sides, covered with imperial paper carefully pasted on, and afterwards moistened with alum-water. The paper should be exactly ruled into squares proportioned to the size of the insects they are intended to contain; and the names of each order and genus affixed according to the system of Linnæus. By way of embellishment, the edges may be lined all round the drawers with narrow slips of some kind of ornamental paper. The fore-part of each drawer should have a thin partition to admit of a proper quantity of camphor, with a number of small air-holes for the more ready diffusion of its effluvia to the insects contained in the drawer: the tops of these partitions must be closed with thin slips of wood laid on them and fitted with nicety, but not glued. To prevent the admission of dust and air, and exhibit the contents to advantage, the top of each drawer must be glazed with the finest glass, fitted into a frame of the same size as the drawer, made either to slide in a groove, or let in on a rabbet.

Having proceeded thus far, it will be adviseable to let the cabinet be thoroughly aired, before any insects are deposited in it, and to be particularly careful that all the insects so deposited be as free as possible from moisture; if the cabinet be then constantly kept in a dry situation, the camphor occasionally renewed, and the air excluded, there is every reason to expect that the several insects may be for a long time preserved in a state of perfection. If, notwithstanding all these precautions, little dusty particles should appear on any of the insects, which is a certain sign of the presence of animalcula, they should be gently wiped with a hair pencil dipped in spirit of wine, or carefully removed into a chip box and placed on the side of a Bath stove for a short time; by these means, if early attended to, they will be sufficiently baked to prevent future injury. A strict adherence to the above particulars, enabled me to preserve the contents of the cabinet formerly in my possession, now the property of Sir John St. Aubyn, Bart. F. R. & L. S. for several years in the most perfect condition, though containing considerably above 2000 articles. Within the same space of time, to my certain knowledge, several valuable collections have been either totally destroyed, or very materially injured; as when once the depredations commence, the destruction proceeds with rapidity, if not speedily prevented.

Those who are desirous of enriching their collection with the productions of other climes, will require a cabinet much more extensive, or, as the subject may be said to be inexhaustible, may devote several to exotic insects only. The collection made by Mr. Drury being, I believe, the most superb which has ever appeared in this kingdom, it may prove agreeable to many of my readers to give them a concise account of it. It is contained in five large cabinets, and consists of two divisions; first, those found in this country, and, secondly, those procured from various quarters of the globe. The English collection contains 2324 different insects, and the foreign one 5066; total, 7380: the latter comprises of coleoptera, 1716; hemiptera, 676; lepidoptera, 1739; neuroptera, 122; hymenoptera, 472; diptera, 312; aptera, 29. The whole of this magnificent collection is regularly arranged, according to the Linnean system, in 144 drawers. Some of the most beautiful objects in this collection are exhibited and fully described in a work published by Mr. Drury, in three vols. quarto, containing on 150 plates about 700 elegantly coloured specimens.

The climate of Asia is particularly favourable to the production of numerous articles in the several branches of natural history unknown to, or not natives of Europe; especially those of the lepidoptera order of insects, numbers of which are remarkably large, and exhibit a variety of the most beautiful colours. This induces gentlemen, previous to their departure for India, to furnish themselves with cabinets at a considerable expense, anticipating the satisfaction they shall enjoy during their residence there, in arranging and depositing therein the several articles they purpose collecting, and entertaining their friends with a view of them. Besides this, they receive commissions from their European friends to collect and remit to them as many as they can, neither party conceiving that this would be attended with any considerable degree of trouble or inconvenience. It may, therefore, not be amiss to introduce here what the Rev. Mr. John, one of the Danish missionaries at Tranquebar, says on the subject.[168] “The rainy season is in the highest degree injurious to collections in every part of natural history, shells and minerals excepted. To obtain a permanent cabinet, if not impossible, is at least very difficult and expensive. Insects, unless carefully preserved in close cases, well secured from the accession of the smallest particle of air, are soon covered with mouldiness; nor are dried fish, stuffed birds, skins of animals, plants, &c. exempted from this inconvenience; if not frequently exposed to the rays of the sun or dried in ovens, myriads of animalcula in a short time form a settlement and inevitably destroy them. All the cabinets received from Europe, lined in the accustomed manner with cork or deal, are here on this account totally useless, besides their being soon disjointed by the heat of the climate. Sail cloth, well pitched and extended on frames, is far better calculated to answer the purpose; a number of these may be placed one above another, at a convenient distance, and the whole supported on light feet: to render them more pleasant to the eye, the linen may be covered as most agreeable either with white or coloured paper. Even the echini, and the smaller marine plants, attract so much dampness as to lose their colours and spiculæ, and fall to pieces, especially if they have not for some time been previously soaked in fresh water, in order to deprive them of their saline particles. Stuffed birds, &c. lose their feathers or hair, and the more soft and tender parts fall off. Consequently, if no ships go from hence during the month of October, but are detained till February, the major part of what I have collected for such of my friends in Europe who are admirers of the wonderful works of the Creator, will be lost to myself and them, besides subjecting me to the imputation of a want of attention and gratitude for favours previously received, than which nothing can be farther from my heart.”

[168] Neuere Geschichte der Missions Anstalten. 48 stück. Halle 1796.

The above remarks, it is hoped, will afford some useful hints to gentlemen intending to visit India; as well as plead in justification of those who, unacquainted with the difficulty of preserving collections in so warm a climate, have previous to their departure precipitately made promises to their friends, which for want of being realized, have too frequently exposed them to unmerited censure.

A
COPIOUS LIST
OF
MICROSCOPIC OBJECTS.

In the introductory part to our author’s list of objects in [Chap. X.] he very justly observes, that from the nature of the subject the list must be very imperfect, &c. it is not with the vain idea of rendering that complete which he has left imperfect, and which indeed must ever remain so, that the following general list is introduced; but principally with the view of still farther assisting the tyro, and pointing out a variety of articles, that might not otherwise so readily occur to him. In most instances, I have mentioned where the objects may be sought for with a probability of success; to have described them would have exceeded my limits. The specimen here given, will convince the reader, that it would be no very difficult task, so to enlarge this list, as to constitute a volume; but, it is presumed, that in its present state it will be found sufficiently extensive, and of considerable utility. To those who are already conversant with the subject, it may prove acceptable as a kind of index to assist their memories; and to such as may be disposed to form a cabinet, it will serve the purposes of directing them in their choice of the principal objects, and exhibiting some idea of the manner in which they are to be arranged.

I. ANIMALS, AND THEIR PARTS.

THE HUMAN SPECIES, QUADRUPEDS, &C.
OBJECTS PECULIAR TO BIRDS.
OBJECTS PECULIAR TO FISHES.

Many of these exhibit most beautiful objects, from the elegant variety of the colours and teints of their skins and scales

INSECTS.
1. Coleoptera.

[169] I have caught great numbers of these on white rose trees and rasp-berry bushes, in the vicinity of London; their smell has to me always appeared approaching nearer to that of oil of rhodium than of musk.

2. Hemiptera.
3. Lepidoptera.
4. Neuroptera.
5. Hymenoptera.
6. Diptera.
7. Aptera.
VERMES.
1. Intestina.
2. Mollusca.
3. Testacca.
4. Lithophyta.
5. Zoophyta.

[170] Those who are desirous of seeing well delineated and elegantly coloured figures of a variety of curious objects among the insect class, particularly such as require investigation by the microscope, will be amply gratified by having recourse to Donovan’s History of British Insects. From the Naturalists Miscellany, by G. Shaw, M. D. F. R. & Vice Pres. L. S. numbers of beautiful subjects may likewise be selected.

II. FOSSILS.

METALS.
SEMI-METALS.
PETREFACTIONS.
Vermes.
Vegetables.
Fishes.
Insects.
Shrubs.

III. VEGETABLES.

Having thus enumerated a considerable variety of articles in the animal and fossile kingdoms, the only part which remains to be noticed is that of vegetables. To any person possessing but a superficial knowledge of botany, it must be obvious that this branch of natural history is extensive in the extreme; and that, consequently, to point out but a small number of such plants as form interesting objects for the microscope, would greatly extend this list, already sufficiently large; for,

“How incompetent is human effort to portray the beauties of this sublime subject! How inadequate the most descriptive talent to approximate to our view the vegetative profusion contained within the recess of nature! How limited have been our public researches! How contracted the knowledge which has been as yet obtained! What an incomprehensible store remains yet concealed, impenetrable to mortal view!”[171]

[171] Observations on the Structure and Economy of Plants, by R. Hooper, M. D., F. L. S. page 128. This work contains an ingenious display of the analogy which subsists between the animal and the vegetable kingdom.

From a source so abundant, the botanist will be under no difficulty in selecting for himself; those who have not made the science a part of their studies, will be materially assisted by having recource to the elegant figures and their descriptions in the Botanical Magazine, by W. Curtis, F. L. S. the well-known author of Flora Londinensis; and English Botany, by J. E. Smith, M. D. F. R. & Pres. L. S. published by Jas. Sowerby, F. L. S. I shall, therefore, just mention in general terms those parts of plants which are peculiarly adapted for microscopical investigation. These are as follow:

[172] The pollen or meal is a fine dust designed for the impregnation of the germen; a small quantity of this meal being put into hot water and applied to the microscope, will exhibit the bursting of the elastic covering of each grain; and the escape of the smaller atoms, which is the true farina.

Of the various classes of plants, that called cryptogamia is eminently calculated for microscopical observation; comprizing the filices, the musci, the algæ, and the fungi. On these subjects Hedwig has produced a valuable work, entitled Theoria Generationis et Fructificationis de Plantarum Cryptogamicarum, of which a new and much improved edition has just appeared, and to which for further information I refer the reader.

A LIST OF MR. CUSTANCE’S VEGETABLE CUTTINGS, THAT USUALLY ACCOMPANY THE MOST COMPLETE SORT OF MICROSCOPES MADE BY MESSRS. W. AND S. JONES.

N. B. Those marked with an * Mr. Custance conceives prove Dr. Hill in an error, when he observed, that the pith of a shoot is not connected with the pith of the branch. See his Construction of Timber, &c. p. 103, 8vo edition.

SALTS, AND VARIOUS CHEMICAL PREPARATIONS.

SALTS.

[173] To ascertain the true configurations of salts, particular attention should be paid to obtain them genuine; it may therefore be proper to apprize the reader, that some of those above enumerated are not easily procured in that state; consequently, though they exhibit pleasing figures, yet they may not be those of the real salt purposed to be investigated. Many hundred weights of some salts are annually manufactured, and sold under names very different from what they really are. Nor is this circumstance confined to salts only: for want of botanical knowledge, preparations of different plants have been frequently sold possessed of medical properties very different from those intended. A valuable medicine, the extract of Hemlock, for instance, instead of being prepared of the conium maculatum, has been made in large quantities of the chærophyllum sylvestre, and thus administered! On this unpleasant subject I could enlarge, were it not digressing from that before us. Whilst such evils exist, need we wonder if the physician as well as the patient are often disappointed in the beneficial effects expected from the adhibition of medicines?

PREPARATIONS OF MERCURY.
MISCELLANEOUS.

After having particularized so many of the works of NATURE, let us now pay some attention to those of ART. But what an humiliating contrast shall we meet with! If our design in viewing objects by the microscope be to discover beauty, harmony, and perfection, it will be necessary to limit our inquiries to the former, happily alone sufficiently abundant; if, on the contrary, we are desirous of discovering deformity and imperfection, we must confine ourselves to the latter. Even those works of art that appear to the unassisted eye as decisive proofs of consummate skill in the workman, and which excite our admiration for their apparent neatness and accuracy, when brought to this test, exhibit their real state; and, consequently, tend but to display the inferiority of the most finished performance of the ablest artist, when put in competition with the glorious productions of nature. The finest works of the loom and of the needle, if exhibited with the microscope, prove so rude and coarse, that were they to appear thus to the naked eye, so far from affording delight to our belles, would be rejected with disgust. But the more we inquire into the works of nature, the more fully are we satisfied of their divine origin: in a flower, for instance, we see how fibres too minute for the unassisted sight are composed of others still more minute, till the primordial threads or first principles are utterly indiscernible; whilst the whole substance presents a celestial radiance in its colouring, with a richness so superior to silver or gold, as if it were intended for the cloathing of an angel, and we have the highest authority for asserting, that the greatest monarch of the East in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these. A very few specimens of art will, therefore, suffice.

An inspection of a few of the above articles only will clearly demonstrate, that as in the moral and political world, so in the works of art, perfection is unattainable by mortal man. With the fullest impression of which truth in the mind of the editor, and an appeal to the candour of his readers towards those imperfections which they may have discovered in this performance, he shall now conclude with,

FINIS.