HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



125 



the inmate speedily become insensible. Afterwards 

 the coup de grace may be given to the insect by 

 pricking it under the thorax with the nib of a 

 steel pen dipped in a saturated solution of oxalic 

 acid. If we are smokers, a puff of tobacco may 

 be blown into the box with like result. If we 

 are destitute of any apparatus, and brimstone 

 lucifers for the purpose of suffocating our captures 

 under an inverted tumbler cannot be obtained 

 at some roadside inn, we must fall back ou 

 the barbarous practice of pinching the thoraces 

 of such as cannot be carried home in boxes. At 

 home we shall find the laurel-jar and ammonia- 

 bottle the most useful. The former is made by 

 partially filling a large wide-mouthed bottle or jar 

 with cut and bruised dry leaves of young laurel : if 

 any dampness hang about them, we shall have the 

 mortification of seeing our specimens become mil- 

 dewed. The latter consists in adding a few lumps 

 of carbonate of ammonia, or some drops of strong 

 liquid ammonia, on a sponge, to the bottle in which 

 our captures, with each box lid slightly opened, have 

 been placed. But it must be borne well in mind, 

 firstl}', that ammonia is injurious to colours of most 

 greeu insects ; and secondly, that if the specimens 

 be not well aired after having been thus killed, the 

 pins with which they are transfixed will become 

 brittle and break. Insects should be left in the 

 ammonia for several hours, and are then in the 

 most delightful condition for setting out. 



To pin an insect properly is a most important 

 procedure. The moth, if of moderate dimensions, 

 may be rested or held between the thumb and fore- 

 finger of the left hand, while the corresponding 



Fig. 85. Front View of properly pinned insect. 



digits of the right hand operate by steadily pushing 

 a pin through the thorax, bringing it out between 

 the hind pair of coxa; until sufBcient of the pin is 

 exposed beneath to steady the insect in the cabinet. 



Fig. 86. Side View of ditto. 



The direction of the pin should be. perpendicular 

 when the insect is viewed from the fron^, as in 



fig. 85, a ; but a lateral view should show the pin 

 slightly slanting forwards, as in fig. 86, b. Pins 

 made for the purpose in numerous sizes are sold l)y 

 Mr. Cooke, of New Oxford Street. 



Setting out moths and butterflies is an operation 

 which, if skilfully performed, adds much to the 

 bejiuty of the future specimens. The method of 

 setting most popular is carried out by means of 

 saddles and braces. These so-called saddles arc 

 pieces of cork rounded as in the sectional figure, a 



^0msg,,^^^^ 



Fig. 87. Cork Saddle for setting out insects. 



groove being cut out for the reception of the bodies 

 of the insects : they are generally strengthened by 

 a strip of wood, upon which they are glued. Braces 

 are wedge-shaped pieces of card or thick note- 

 paper, the thick end strengthened, if necessary, with 

 a disk of card fixed by shoemaker's paste, and 

 pierced with a pin through it, as shown in fig. 88- 



I 



Fig. 88. Braces for setting out. 



The mode of application of these appliances is 

 beautifully shown in fig. OO.® But before these 

 straps can be applied, the wings must first be got 

 into position by means of the setting-needle and 

 setting-bristle, which are thus manipulated; the 

 setting -bristle, by the way, being formed by 

 fixing a cat's whisker and a pin into a piece of 

 cork, at the angle shown in fig. 89 : — After the 



Fig. so. Pin, Biistle, &c., for setting out. 



insect is straightly pinned upon the saddle, and the 

 legs, antennae, and, if necessary, the tongue, got 

 into position, the left fore-wing is to be pushed or 



* This figure and the following have been kindly lent by 

 Messrs. Reeve &, Co. 



