NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 145 



saved the student, but on the other hand they do not look very 

 well ; there is no uniformity among them — they have in many 

 cases an unnatural appearance, and the peculiar fades of the 

 individual species is not so readily seized by the eye, so that if it 

 were only from an aesthetic point of view, proper setting is to be 

 recommended ; indeed, it is almost universally followed in this 

 country, and it may be added as universally neglected on the 

 Continent. But if the flies are to be carded, it is absolutely 

 necessary that the antennae, legs, wings, etc., be properly dis- 

 played, or the species in many cases cannot be identified. Besides, 

 it is not always easy to display on cardboard all the specific 

 characters, especially those on the underside ; but if they be set 

 a little on their sides, with only one wing gummed down — if care 

 be taken to show the mouth so that its colour, form of the cly- 

 peus, etc., may be visible; if one of the antennae be left loose (in 

 some species the underside differs in colour from the upper); if 

 one of the tarsi be left loose, so that the form of the claws can be 

 noted; and lastly, if properly prepared gum be used, and if it be 

 not too lavishly employed, there can be no difficulty experienced 

 in scrutinizing the species, while if these matters are neglected, 

 proportionate trouble will be met with. Carding possesses 

 advantages over pinning in so far that the specimens are not so 

 readily damaged ; they can be handled with greater freedom and 

 security; they do not become troubled with verdigris (and pinned 

 specimens are much aff'ected with it, and if so, can hardly be 

 cleaned); should they become dirty it is a simple matter to re- 

 card them, while it is almost impossible to repin a pinned 

 specimen without leaving an ugly hole in the thorax. As regards 

 speed there is not much diff'erence to choose between carding and 

 pinning ; with practice, forty or fifty may be set in an hour either 

 way; but in one respect carding has the advantage, viz. : — that 

 the specimens are ready for the cabinet in a day or two after being 

 arranged, while with the other method the specimens must remain 

 on the setting board from four to six weeks, according to the 

 species and state of the atmosphere. 



It is obvious that if the smaller Braconidae, Chalcididae, Oxyura, 

 and Cynipidae are to be pinned, it is utterly impossible that the 

 limbs can be stretched out, and with some of the groups, unless 

 great care be taken, the structure and form of the thorax (an im- 

 portant part with Oxyura and Cynipidae) will be distorted, if not 



VOL. III. K 



