The Capture, Preparation, and Preservation of Specimens 
Relaxing Specimens.—When butterflies or moths have been 
put up in papers or mounted on pins without having their wings 
expanded and set it becomes necessary, before setting them, to 
relax them. This may be ac¬ 
complished in several ways. 
If the specimens have been 
pinned it is best to place them 
on pieces of sheet-cork on a 
tray of sand which has been 
thoroughly moistened and 
treated with a good dose of 
carbolic acid. Over all a bell- 
glass is put. A tight tin box 
will serve the same purpose, Fig. 58. —Butterfly pinned on board, showing 
but a broad sheet of bibulous method of holdin S Ll P bod y and P innin g down 
antennae. 
paper should always be put 
over the box, under the lid, before closing it, and in such a way as to 
leave the edges of the paper projecting around the edges of the lid. 
This is done to absorb the moisture which might settle by condensa¬ 
tion upon the lid and drop upon the specimens. In a bell-glass the 
c 
Fig. 59.— Drying-box: a, setting-board partly pulled 
out; b, T-shaped strip working in groove on setting- 
board ; c, front door, sliding down by tongue, d , work¬ 
ing in a groove at side in front. 
moisture generally trickles down the sides. Earthenware crocks 
with closely fitting lids are even better than tin boxes, but they 
must have paper put over them, before closing, in the same way 
as is done when tin boxes are used. When specimens have been 
4i 
