122 BEES AND WASPS [OH. 



used to focus the rays on the mouth of the hole, 

 and so create an exceptionally fine and warm day- 

 locally; or should the hole be so placed that it is 

 impossible to direct the rays down the hole with 

 the magnifying glass then the mirror may be used 

 to reflect the sunlight into the hole. These devices 

 very seldom fail to entice the insect up into the 

 welcome warmth. 



Before being placed in its permanent position in 

 the cabinet or store-box the insect should be "set" 

 in such a way as to display those organs which are 

 of value in identification. But since the insects 

 become rigid soon after death, and since many of 

 them have a knack of dying in very awkward atti- 

 tudes, it is best to leave them for some days in a 

 relaxing tray before attempting to "set" them. I find 

 one of Newman's patent relaxing boxes most useful 

 for this purpose. When ready for "setting/ 5 the insect 

 should be transfixed through the thorax with a very 

 fine pin. It will be found that there is a right place 

 and many wrong places in which to insert the pin ; 

 for the muscles which actuate the wings are contained 

 within the hard skeleton of the thorax, and the pin 

 is bound to traverse some of these muscles in its 

 passage. If the right place be found, as it may be 

 by gentle pressure not sufficient to pierce the out- 

 side covering, the insertion of the pin will cause the 

 wings to spread out symmetrically and in a position 



