414 LIFE STORIES OF AUSTRALIAN INSECTS. 



whole white paper is pasted. The above just describes 

 an ordinary board, but the collector will have 

 several, Avith grooves varying in width and depth 

 according to the types of insects to be stretched. 



We will take a butterfly to illustrate the method 

 of stretching. A steel pin should be placed through 

 the thorax ; then the insect should be placed so that 

 the body fits into the groove. The wings should be 

 arranged so that the front ones are well forward in 

 oi'der to allow room for the hind pair to be displayed. 

 Getting the wings into position is not always easy. 

 Do not touch tliem with the fingers, as the scales so 

 readily rub off. A pair of small hat pins, in the 

 absence of proper needles, will be found most use- 

 ful. Place one of these along the firm outer edge 

 of the front wing, and gently bring the wing for- 

 ward into position. Strips of paper, about J in. wide 

 and with a rough surface, should be in readiness. 

 Secure the upper end of a strip with a pin to the 

 1)oard, then run tlie finger down on this paper, hold- 

 ing it firmly and fastening the lower end, of course 

 taking care that tlie hind wing is in position. In this 

 Avay both wings are held. Do the same with the 

 wings on the opposite side. Then, to aid further, 

 place two strips of paper across the insect. Leave 

 the insect in this position on the stretcliing board 

 until it is perfectly rigid. The pin is as a rule placed 

 through the centre of the thorax, except in the case 

 of beetles and small insects. In the former it will 

 s'oon be found out that the pressure required to put 

 the pin through the hard prothorax will probably 

 smash your insect. A vulnerable spot is found a 



