PRESERVE LEPIDOPTEROUS INSECTS. 47 



render setting difficult, whilst shorter ones entail the makino- 

 of many more. One edge may be planed so as to slant a 

 little as is shown in figs. J.3, 14, 15, etc. Next take some 

 half inch nomimil wood, and cut it in strips 5 in., 3 J in., 

 21 in., wide. Plane this neatly on both the flat sides and 

 then cut them into strips of 8 in. long. When all the pieces 

 are prepared glue a J in. thick strip on to an J in. strip in 

 such a way that the slanting edge is as in fig. 19. While 

 the olue is still hot nail these too-ether with a one-inch nail. 

 Four nails will do for the whole lenoth. Do the same with 

 half the remaining quantity of strips, taking care that you 

 use only one of each pair and that you fix the wide strips on 

 the broad ^ in. wood. To complete the setting-boards take 

 some peat, such as is used for lining the drawers of insect 

 cabinets or, failing this, use sunflower pith ; cut the pith 

 with a sharp knife into strips of varions thickness, from yin. 

 to f in. This done, put a little glue on the top of the base- 

 board, fix your strip of peat or pith in position, as shown in 

 illustration, and, before the glue gets too cold, press the other 

 thick strip of wood against it compressing the peat somewhat. 

 Now nail on the wood as with the first strip. By compressing 

 the peat more or less the Avidth of tb.e slit can be regulated. 

 When all boards are finished plane the sides of the board and 

 with a very sharp plane take away just enough of the top to 

 make a perfectly flat surface. A piece oifine sand-paper will 

 finish the board and it should last at least fifteen years. The 

 following quantity of boards is recommended : — 



