328 British Dragonflies. 



From various circumstances, Dragonflies, like other 

 insects, often need relaxing before the)- can be set, or 

 in order to reset them in a different style. This ma\' 

 be done in the ways that are usual for Lcpidoptcra. 

 They may be put in a damp zinc relaxing-box, or the}- 

 may be placed over damp sand, or floated on cork- 

 over water. In each case the vessel containing them 

 should be closed, and the whole apparatus kept slightl}' 

 warm. Setting must not be attempted till the insects 

 are thoroughly relaxed. 



Recently pyroxyllic spirit — purified wood-naphtha — 

 has come into use for relaxing Neuroptera, &c. The 

 joints, and all parts of the insect that need relaxing, 

 are moistened with the spirit by means of a paint- 

 brush, and after about a quarter of an hour or so the 

 insect may be set. It will be ready for the cabinet 

 next day. This method is recommended, but the spirit 

 should not be used too freely or the legs ma)- be 

 detached. 



Dr. H. G. Knaggs (E. M. M., 1896, p. 10 1) suggests 

 the following method for relaxing insects : The ap- 

 paratus required is an accurately stoppered, wide- 

 mouthed 30Z. bottle and a piece of sheet cork in the 

 form of a circle with a long pin stuck in its centre as 

 a handle. Into the bottle ^oz. of sublimated naphthaline 

 (not ordinary albo-carbon) and about six drops of wood- 

 naphtha are to be introduced. The insects are pinned on 

 the stage, and in forty-eight hours relaxing is complete. 



A laurel-jar would no doubt give satisfactorx" results 

 as with the Lcpidoptcra. 



When a relaxed Dragonfly is taken off the boards 

 it is perhaps well to just touch the junction of the 



