ROSS: HOW TO COLLECT AND PRESERVE INSECTS 



27 



under "Relaxing Boxes and Jars." Then pin it, keeping in mind 

 fig. 12 and the directions given under "Preservation by Pinning." 

 Thrust the pin, with the insect on it, through the upper cork of 



End piece 



<^ 



4 iNCUtS 



Fig. 16. — Spreading board for moths and butterflies. The insect is pinned 

 into the groove and its wings drawn forward and pinned temporarily as 

 shown on the right. The left wings are shown with pinning completed. Inset 

 is a view of spreading board construction. The top pieces of the board must 

 be smooth and of soft wood. First grade pine is satisfactory. 



the board and into the cork on the base. Insert the insect body 

 in the groove so that the wing bases are level with the near edge 

 of the top pieces. Hold the wings at the top level by two narrow 

 strips of paper and pull them forward until the hind margin of 

 the front wing is at right angles to the body axis, and the front 

 margin of the hind wing is just under the front wing, fig. 16. Pin 

 the wings temporarily in this position by inserting a pin, size 

 or 00, near the front margin at the base of each wing. When 

 the wings on both sides of the insect are thus adjusted, lay strong 



