Preparing for the Cabinet. 325 



Whatever may be the merits or demerits of curved 

 setting in the case of Lepidoptcra, there can be no doubt 

 that the Odonata should be set flat. Ahjreover, in order 

 to enable the legs to be properl}- arranged, the board 

 must have a wide rectangular groove to contain them. 

 A form of board, of which Fig. 55 is a cross-section, is 

 recommended, the parts marked a being made of cork, 

 and b of deal. The cork on the upper surface ma}' 

 be dispensed with if entomological pins are not used 

 for setting. Five boards with the following dimensions 

 are convenient sizes : 



1. A B 1 20mm. DE 27mm. DF lomm. 



2. 100 25 8 



3. 72 22 6 



4-55 15 4 



5. 45 12 2 



A C and F H will, of course, var\' according to the 

 height an\- particular collector wishes his insects to 

 appear up the pin. For moderatel}- low setting A C 

 should be 25mm. 



Since a Dragonfly ma\' be handled without fear of 

 damaging it, setting presents no great difficulties. The 

 pin should be thrust vertically through the centre of 

 the thorax, care being taken that the point does 

 not pass through a leg and detach it. The Dragonfl}- 

 having been pinned in the centre of the groo\e, a 

 small piece of cardboard attached to a pin (^Fig. 56) 

 must be so placed as to prop up the head in the 

 proper position. The upper surface of the thorax 

 having now been brought down level with the surface 

 of the board, the legs should be placed in the position 

 indicated in Fig. 57. This is not the natural position, 



