26 INTRODUCTION. 



held down with pins, as shown in the illustration. 

 The insect should be left thus fastened until dry, so 

 that the wings will remain in the position indicated. 

 This usually requires from ten to fourteen days. 



Some sort of boxes or cases in which to keep the 

 specimens are of course necessary. The simplest and 

 cheapest receptacle consists of empty cigar boxes, 

 lined (in the bottom with sheet cork. Tight wooden 

 boxes of almost any kind will also answer the pur- 

 pose. Shallow drawers with the bottoms lined with 

 cork are excellent. 



The specimens must frequently be examined to see 

 that museum pests — insects which live on dead ani- 

 mal tissues of all kinds — do not destroy them. 

 When these are found, bake the specimens in an oven 

 for an hour, at a temperature of 140° Fahrenheit. 



Moths, butterflies, bees, wasps, and a large number 

 of similar insects should be pinned through the cen- 

 ter of the thorax, or middle division of the body, the 

 pin being pushed through until about one-third of 

 its length remains above the insect. Beetles, how- 

 ever, should be pinned through the right wing cov- 

 er, and the true bugs through the triangular piece at 

 the base of the wings, called the scutellum. 



Any one desiring to learn about the classification 

 of insects will find the Introduction to Entomology, 

 by Professor J. H. Comstock, Ithaca, New York, ex- 

 tremely valuable. Professor Packard's books " En- 

 tomology for Beginners," and " Guide to the Study 

 of Insects," which can be obtained through book- 

 dealers, will also prove helpful. 



