26 The Btttterflies and Moths of Teneriffe. 



the boards, fixing as many specimens as its lengtli will 

 permit. 



Many persons use triangular pieces of card as braces 

 for the butterfly, fixing one or more on each wing, but 

 the strips of paper seem somewhat easier to arrange, and 

 damage the plumage even less than the card, though 

 when either method is adopted the specimen ought not 

 to be damaged in the least. In making a perfect collec- 

 tion of butterflies three specimens should be set up of 

 every variety ; the male, the female, and one set with 

 the underside uppermost. It is not usual to set moths 

 the reverse way. 



Butterflies must be left on the board to stiffen for 

 ten days or a fortnight ; after that they can be removed 

 to the store-box. Moths with large bodies take longer in 

 drying, and must be left for three or four weeks. By 

 touching the end of the body of a specimen gently with 

 a pin it can easily be seen whether it is firm and stiff 

 enough to be removed to the case. If butterflies and 

 moths are not set soon after death they become stiff, 

 and would be useless ; but tbere are several modes of 

 relaxing them, and it may be useful to give a description 



