METHOD OF SETTING. 437 



fort-on-tlie-Maine, that all the insects had had their colours 

 injured in this way, the black spots on white butterflies 

 being turned to brown, and the white tinged w4th yellowdsh- 

 green. In the case of insects tenacious of life, such as some 

 moths, particularly females which have not deposited their 

 eggs, piercing their breast with a pin dipt in nitric acid 

 will instantly kill them. After killing dragon-flies, the 

 intestines must be carefully removed, otherwise the colours 

 will all become black. 



Method of mounting small insects. 



To fit insects for a cabinet, they require to be set, as it is 

 termed ; that is, all their parts must be placed in the 

 manner best fitted to display them. For this purpose each 

 is pierced, when dead, with an insect pin, a fine slender 

 sort, manufactured on purpose. Beetles ought to have the 

 pins passed through the shoulder of the right w^ing-case, 

 and butterflies and other insects through the corslet, on a 

 right line with the head, and a little back from it. While 

 the insect is fresh and flexible, the legs and wings are to 

 be stretched out with a setting-needle, or a large pin bent 

 at the point and fixed into a w^ooden handle, then stuck 

 upon a board covered with cork and paper, and kept in 

 their proper position by means of pins and braces till they 

 become dry and stiff. The braces are made with slips of 

 fine card, or thick hot-pressed paper, stuck through at one 

 end with a strong pin. When insects have become stiff 

 before being set, they may be rendered flexible again by 

 covering them over, for several hours with a damp cloth, 

 which, however, must not be permitted to touch them. A 

 camel-hair pencil is used for brushing off dust. The mode 

 of setting will be best understood from the figures. 



