234 



ELEMENTAKY STUDIES IN INSECT LIFE 



liind the wing-margins. Use one of tlie dissecting-needles 

 (page 252) to move the wings forward into position. 

 This needle should be placed behind one of the strong 

 nerves of the wing, to prevent tearing the membrane. 

 When the wings are in proper position, tighten the 

 basal strips and place another (somewhat wider) strip 

 across the outer half of each of the wings. Fasten with 

 domestic pins in the same manner as the basal strip was 

 fastened. 



Cabinets. -Insect-cases are of many devices. Each is 

 suited to its purpose. The high-school collection should 

 be placed in a cabinet that has been erected for the 

 purpose, one that will insure the safety of the collec- 

 tions, and one easy of access for reference and study. 



One of the prerequisites of a museum case is, that it 

 be so constructed as to make it practically impossible for 

 museum pests, other insects which live upon dried in- 

 sects and other museum collections, to gain entrance. 

 Chief among these pests are the little beetles of the 

 buffalo-moth family. Frames can be made of soft-pine 

 strips, one-half inch thick, to tit AVI thin the case. These 

 frames are covered above and beloAV Avith a heavy qual- 

 ity of good Avhite paper, pasted to the strips. This 

 paper frame is dropped Avithin the case, and serves to 

 hold the insect-pins in place. The insects can be ar- 

 ranged in roAvs, Avith labels on the left of each series. 

 Four specimens of a kind constitute a series. 



A handy case is one the size of which is in inches 

 10x14x5 (outside measurement). This case consists of 

 two parts of equal size, each being 2^ inches deep. The 

 corners are dovetailed. On the inside of one of the com- 

 partments a strip extends from the bottom on each side 



