26 GNATS OR MOSQUITOES— CHAPTER II 



have returned from the uttermost ends of the world simply 

 wrapped in brown paper, and have landed their cargoes in 

 good condition, so that the plan can be recommended as 

 having stood the test of rough actual practice. 



The insects should be pinned immediately after killing, 

 as if left for more than a few minutes they get so stiff that 

 it is dithcult to arrange them nicely in position without 

 damaging the legs. As a rule, it will be found that they die 

 with the wings nicely spread out at right angles with the 

 body, so that the insect when shaken out of the bottle on to 

 the setting cork lies naturally on its back. The process of 

 pinning is conducted as follows : — 



Fig. 7. — To Illustratk the Method of Pinning a IMosquito: Twice 

 Natural Size. 



(1) Take a disc and write on it date and place of collec- 

 tion — " House," " bites," " sylvan " — or other information ; 

 also a distinguishing letter if there be several species. 



(2) Place the disc, writing upwards, on the piece of cork 

 and then take an insect pin in a pair of forceps close to the 

 point and transfix the disc near the middle. 



(3) Place the Mosquito on the cork on its back. 



(4) Take the pin, with the disc on it, in a pair of forceps 

 near the head, and holding it so pass the point through the 

 thorax of the insect between the roots of the legs from 

 venter to dorsum. 



