44 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



imagine, will not do for Microlepidoptera. Directions on that head I must 

 leave to others. A box, such as I have described (or rather attempted to 

 describe), is actually indispensable to the Entomologist, and should always 

 accompany him in his rambles, as insects are thus captured, with the greatest 

 ease, on trunks of trees, leaves, flowers, &c. This is the box to be used in 

 examining ivy-bloom. 



The next point to be considered is, the setting up an insect, when caught ; and 

 and I may here speak of the proper pins. Edelsten and Williams, Iron Works, 

 Birmingham, make pins for this purpose ; and, upon application, will forward a 

 pattern paper, with the prices annexed. The following are, I think, the best sizes : 

 for Rhopalocera, Nos. 5 and 17 ; Sphingidse, 16 and 15 ; Bombyces, 13 and 14 ; 

 Noctuae, 8 ; Pyrales, 15 and 18 ; and Geometrte, 8, 7, 10. 



There are three methods of setting up insects the flat, the rounded, and the 

 sloping. The flat is the method adopted on the Continent, but it does not meet 

 with much favour in England. Several distinguished Microlepidopterists, how- 

 ever, employ it. The rounded is the method generally adopted, I believe, by the 

 Metropolitan collectors. I cannot give any directions on this head, as I have never 

 tried it. The last, which I term sloping, is the one which, I think, generally 

 prevails. For this purpose are required strips of cork, or soft deal, about a foot 

 long, with a groove, proportioned to the size of the insect, running down the centre. 

 The cork must be smoothly shaved away on each side, according to the amount of 

 deflection, which each individual's fancy may suggest ; great care, however, being 

 taken that each side exactly corresponds. Insert the pin in the centre of the tho- 

 rax, with the head bent a little forward. Above all things, avoid letting the pin 

 bend to either side. It should be exactly perpendicular, when the insect is set. 

 Having placed the moth or butterfly in the groove, so as to permit the wings 

 nearly to touch the edge, push them gently up with some pointed instrument to 

 the desired length (a good distance is, the apex of the wing being some degree 

 higher than the head), and then fix them with a brace of card. Be sure that the 

 wings exactly correspond. The antennae and abdomen should be made to pre- 

 serve the required position by means of pins. This is a point much neglected by 

 many collectors. Insects will require, according to their size, the state of the 

 atmosphere, &c., more or less time to dry (the females generally take twice as 

 long as the males) ; but they should not be removed until quite dry, as other- 

 wise the wings are apt to start back. The setting-boards should be carefully kept 

 free from dirt, dust, &c. 



To relax an insect, all that is required is, to pin it on a piece of cork ; place the 

 cork in a vessel of water, and cover it up, and in 6, 12, or 24 hours, as the case 

 may be, tbe insect will be as flexible as when caught. 



To remove grease, the best method is, to cut open the under side of the ab- 

 domen, with a pair of fine-pointed and sharp scissors ; and, having picked out the 

 contents, to soak it for six or eight hours, either in camphine or spirit of turpen- 

 tine. Having dried the insect, as far as possible, with blotting-paper, cover it up 

 with magnesia for 24 hours. A camel's hair brush will remove the magnesia, and 

 the insect will be uninjured. Green insects, however, fade, when submitted to this 

 process. A large piece of camphor should be placed in each drawer, or box, which 

 may contain insects. 



For the purpose of breeding, I use a number of boxes portioned off into divi- 

 sions. Both boxes and divisions, of course, vary in size. For example's sake, 

 however, suppose one 18 inches square, and 6^ inches in depth, portioned off into 

 12 equal divisions. In each division I place some fine mould to the depth of about 

 1 inch, and upon that I put some moss. A lid covered with gauze (like the rim 

 of a slate, with the slate knocked out) is made to accurately fit the box, and the 

 apparatus is complete. In each division may be placed four or five caterpillars, if 

 using the same food. At first they do not seem to like their new abode, but they 

 soon become reconciled to it. The food may be renewed once a day, and the moss 

 occasionally damped. Wire must be substituted for gauze where the gnawing 

 powers are strongly developed, as in the case of " Cossus ligniperda," the " Ceruras, ' 

 " Acronycta alni,"&c., and bits of decayed wood should be placed in the division. 

 I may here mention an instance of the gnawing powers of the larva of the "puss 



