26 NATURALISTS' ASSISTANT. 



in the desired position and held either by a slip of cardboard 

 pinned to the setting board, or by the weight of a piece of 

 glass or sheet lead. The wings of the two sides should be 

 brought to symmetrical positions and the antennae and legs 

 disposed as desired and held in position with pins if neces- 

 sary. The board and its contents should then be put away 

 to dry, an operation which will occupy from three days to a 

 week or more according to the temperature and moisture of 

 the air. 



The collector in the field will find it convenient to pack 

 butterflies in sheets of paper folded in triangles and in this 

 shape they may be kept as long as desired, of course all due 

 precautions being taken to prevent the ravages of injurious 

 insects. When it is desired to spread them they may be re- 

 laxed, no matter how long a time has elapsed since their col- 

 lection, by placing them in a covered box, the bottom of 

 which is covered with moist sand, the insects being protect- 

 ed from soiling by the intervention of a sheet of paper. 

 The box with its contents is then placed in a warm place 

 for half a day when the moisture arising from the sand will 

 have so relaxed the muscles and tendons that the specimens 

 may be spread in the manner above described. 



Beetles, bugs, and orthoptera may be taken from the 

 alcohol and pinned at any time, but flies, Hymenoptera, 

 Neuroptera and Lepidoptera never present a good appear- 

 ance after immersion in spirits, though Hymenoptera and 

 Neuroptera stand the operation better than the others. A 

 protracted stay in the spirit injures the colors of all insects. 



