NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC. 255 



middle of the groove, inclining very slightly forwards, and pass a 

 setting needle down both sides of the thorax and abdomen to draw 

 the second and third pairs of legs out of the way of the wings. Press 

 the pin down until the insect rests in the groove, with the bases of the 

 wings beneath very slightly raised above the level of the board. The 

 next process is to apply the spanners, and first we must describe what 

 these instruments are. For butterflies (except Lyaena and Polyomma- 

 tus), Sphinges, Bombyces, Noctuae, and the smallest Geometrge, the 

 most useful is the quill ; and the way to make it is as follows. Take 

 an ordinary quill and cut a piece out of it about 2 inches ( or i^ 

 inches) in length, taking care to allow the convexity of the quill to run 

 equally level from end to end through the middle. This slice of quill 

 should be graduated to a point. Through the broadest end pass a 

 long stout needle and fasten it to the quill with sealing-wax or with a 

 cube of cork glued tightly ; the top of the needle to be headed with 

 sealing wax. We have now a movable brace, which, when pressed on 

 the vving, holds the costal nervure tightly, but, from its rounded form 

 does not in the slightest degree mark the wing. The other kind of 

 spanner is for smaller and weaker winged insects, and is made thus : 

 Take an ordinary bristle, such as is used in clothes brushes ; it must be 

 stiff but perfectly smooth (passing it through the fingers will discover 

 this), and about an inch or an inch and a half in length. Take a long 

 darning needle and, with a little sealing-wax, affix the bristle by one 

 end to it, about half an inch from the point. The angle formed by the 

 bristle with the needle should be slightly obtuse. The advantage of 

 this bristle spanner is the little space occupied by it on the wing-area of 

 small species, which would be half covered by the quill. We will now 

 suppose the insect to be pinned properly, the head of the pin slightly 

 pointing forwards, and the wings either lying flat on the boards or 

 gently raised above them. Take a spanner and insert the point of the 

 needle in the cork as near to the groove as possible, with the quill 

 point pressed against the cork, beyond the costa of the fore wing, and 

 near the base, gradually pressing the spanner forward till the pressure 

 is exerted on the costal nervure which it will hold tightly. Then do 

 the same with another spanner on the other side of the thorax ; the 

 moth or butterfly now lies on the board, firmly held in its place by the 

 spanners. Take a setting needle in the right hand, and by very gently 

 pressing the head of the spanner needle backwards with the left, the 

 pressure on the costal nervure is diminished, and a slight touch with 

 the setting needle at the extreme base of the wing will cause it to 

 expand as far as is deemed necessary ; and the same with the hind 

 wing. Release the head of the spanner from the pressure, and the 

 wings remain in their places as desired ; then do the same with the 

 wings on the other side. The insect now assumes on the board, held bv 

 the spanners, the exact position we require it to retain when set, and to 

 complete the process, we have only to put on the braces. These are 

 made of tracing paper (ihe smoothest is the best), and they should 

 be cut a little in excess of the size of the fore and hind wings combined, 

 between the spanner and the hind margins. A rectangular or rhom- 

 boidal shape is the best, but must entirely cover the wings and fringes, 

 and it is as well to cut a sufficient number before commencing 

 operations. On the right hand side, for example, run a pin through 



