256 THE entomologist's recokd. 



the bottom angle of the brace and pin it through the cork close to the 

 anal angle of the hind wing, pressing the pin slightly backwards towards 

 you ; the second pin is inserted as near the costa (next the spanner) as 

 you can; press this slightly forwards or away from you, this tighten ^ 

 the brace and holds the wing in its place. Two other pins, one 

 inserted at the apex of the fore wing and the other at the angle formed 

 by the fore and hind wings, is all that is necessary, and when this is 

 repeated on the other side, the spanners can be removed for use on the 

 next specimen. Arrangement of fore legs and antennse may now 

 be done, and the transparency of the brace shows if anything 

 is out of order, when, by replacing the spanners it can be rectified. 

 Braces may be used twice, but be careful to reverse or turn them over, 

 lest the roughness of the previous pinholes should mark the wing. 

 When the insects are set, leave them on the boards until thoroughly dry. 

 This may be ascertained by touching the body with a setting needle. 

 If the abdomen appears perfectly hard and does not yield or bend, the 

 insect is ready to be removed, but do not be in too great a hurry to 

 effect this ; it will save much subsequent disappointment. In con- 

 clusion I have only to say that, although the process under description 

 appears a lengthy one, it is really not so, as from 20 to 30 insects may 

 be set out in an hour. If I have been the means of helping anyone 

 to improve their style of setting and the condition of their specimens, I 

 shall feel I have not written in vain. Any questions on the subject 

 I shall be happy to answer by letter. The pins I use are black with 

 small heads. Nos. 4 and 6 for very large insects. Nos. 7 and 8 for 

 Butterflies, Bombyces, Noctuse and large Geometry. No. 10, small 

 Butterflies, Geometras, Pyrales and large Tortrices. No. 17, Tortrices 

 in general. Nos. 17 and 18, Tineina.- — C. Fenn, Eversden House, 

 Burnt Ash Hill, Lee, Kent. October i6t/i, 1890. [The only addition 

 I would suggest to Mr. Fenn's most explicit note is, that when pinning 

 insects on the boards, it is advisable to look down the board to see if 

 the pins are in line. — Ed.] 



Notes on some Macro-Lepidoptera, usually of common occur- 

 rence, BUT RARE IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF SHEFFIELD. Although 



one or two of the localities in the immediate district of Sheffield (and 

 of which I here only intend to treat) produce many local species, 

 and some of them abundantly, yet many of the commoner species, 

 which are usually abundant elsewhere, are exceedingly scarce and of 

 rare occurrence. I may here state that by the immediate neighbcmr- 

 hood of Sheffield I embrace anywhere within a four mile radius from 

 the centre of the town. 



Among the Diurni, we are very scantily represented, and this is 

 by no means an enviable locality for those who only take an interest 

 in this beautiful — but in England small — portion of lepidoptera. 

 Upon the authority of some of our old local entomologists, I find 

 that at one time and the other during the last forty or fifty years some 

 thirty-five species of butterflies have been caught close to Sheffield, 

 but of these only a dozen or less are now to be seen year by year and 

 fairly commonly. These are the three '■'■ whites" A. cardamines, V. 

 urtucB, atalafita and cardui, S. j'anira and hyperanthus, C. pamphiliis, 

 L. alexts, and II. sylvaniis. But even of this meagre list some are rare 

 and will be noticed below, together with other common species scarce 



