COLLECTING INSECTS. 13 



species. Each board has a groove down the centre for the 

 bodies of the insects to rest in, while the wings are spread 

 out on either side. They should be carefully moved for- 

 wards with a fine-pointed needle to the desired position, 

 and retained by strips of tracing cloth pinned firmly down 

 at the ends. These strips must not be removed until the 

 insects are thoroughly dry and ready to place in the store- 

 box or cabinet. In setting Lepidoptera, as with other 

 insects, symmetry and a natural position are the main 

 points to be aimed at, special care being taken that the 

 antennae, fore- and hind-legs, and wings, are shown in 

 correct positions, the middle pair of legs being of course, 

 in the majority of cases, hidden by the wings. It is almost 

 needless to say that different sized pins should be used for 

 various insects, but this point must be left to the discretion 

 of the collector. Entomological pins of all sizes can be 

 obtained from James Gardner, of 29 Oxford Street, London. 

 Gilt pins are useful for many species which are liable to 

 form verdigris on the pins, and are universally employed 

 by many entomologists, but are probably not so strong as 

 the silvered ones. 



Many species of moths are only to be found at night. 

 When working at this time the collector must suspend a 

 bulls-eye lantern round his neck or waist, and can then have 

 both arms free for capturing insects on the wing or at 

 blossoms. Honey mixed with a little rum, and applied 

 with a small brush to the trunks of trees a few minutes 

 after sunset, will, on some evenings, attract large numbers 

 of valuable species, but not infrequently it is quite unpro- 

 ductive. This mode of collecting has been termed " sugar- 

 ing " by entomologists, and may be employed during the 

 whole summer. The best blossoms for attracting insects 

 in New Zealand are those of the white rata, 1 which blooms 

 in the forest from February till April, and from which the 



1 Metrosideros scandens. 



