The Capture, Preparation, and Preservation of Specimens 
Fig. 5 i . —Butterfly in envelope. 
a comparatively small sum, are preferable because of their conve¬ 
nience. Many collectors, however, paper their specimens in envel¬ 
opes which they make of oblong bits of paper adapted to the size 
of the insect. The process of making the envelope and of paper¬ 
ing the insect is accurately depicted in the accompanying cut 
(Fig. 52). The writer finds it good in 
the case of small butterflies to place 
them in boxes between layers of cheap 
plush or velvet. A small box, a few 
inches long, may be provided, and at 
its bottom a layer of velvet is placed; 
upon this a number of small butterflies 
are laid. Over them is placed a layer of velvet, with its soft 
pile facing the same side of the velvet at the bottom. On top 
of this another piece of velvet is laid, with its pile upward, 
and other specimens are again deposited, and over this another 
piece of velvet is laid, and so on. If the box is not filled full at 
once, it is well to have enough pieces of velvet cut to fill it, or else 
place cotton on top, so as to keep the layers of velvet from mov¬ 
ing or shaking about. A yard or two 
of plush or velvet will suffice for the 
packing of a thousand specimens of 
small butterflies. 
Mounting Butterflies .—When the 
collector has time enough at his dis¬ 
posal he should at once mount his 
specimens as they are intended to be 
displayed in the collection. We shall 
now proceed to explain the manner in 
which this is most advantageously ac¬ 
complished. Theinsectshouldfirstofallbepinned. Thepinshould 
be thrust perpendicularly through the thorax, midway between the 
wings, and at a considerable elevation upon the pin. It should 
then be placed upon the setting-board or setting-block. Setting- 
boards or setting-blocks are pieces of wood having a groove on 
the upper surface of sufficient depth to accommodate the body of 
the insect and to permit the wings to be brought to the level 
of the upper surface of the board (Fig. 53). They should also be 
provided either with a cleft or a hole which will permit the pin to 
be thrust down below the body of the insect for a considerable 
33 
Fig. 52.—Method of folding pa¬ 
per for envelopes: first fold on line 
AB ; then on AD and CB ; then on 
BF and EA. 
