186 



ELEMENTARY LESSONS ON INSECTS 



of the vial to the top. Outside gummed labels are not perma- 

 nent. The celluloid front permits reading without removal 

 of the vials from the rack. 



Preservation on pins. — This is the regular way of making 

 an insect collection. The horny outside skeleton allows 

 insects to be dried with less alteration of appearance than 

 anv other animals. 



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Fig. 66. — Odd ways of pinning insects: A, a fleabeetle pinned (as is the 

 rule for beetles) through the right wing cover; B, a gall midge mounted on a 

 pin point; C, a snout beetle glued to a paper point. 



When removed from the cyanide bottle they may be 

 pinned at once; and best so, if time permits. When once 

 they have become dry and brittle, they have to be relaxed 

 before they can be pinned. The relaxing jar commonly used 

 for this purpose is a two-gallon jar of glazed earthenware 

 containing damp sand over which clean papers are spread. 



