INTRODUCTION 53 



accompanying diagrams. Such specimens may be kept 

 for an indefinite time and if one wishes to mount them 

 later, it is only necessary to place them for a few 

 hours in a relaxing jar, which is simply a closed ves- 

 sel with enough water in the bottom to saturate the 

 air with moisture. A great advantage of keeping the 

 specimens in these paper covers is that they require 

 so little room and are easily stored away in tin cans 

 or boxes where they are safe from dust and destroying 

 enemies. 



Those butterflies which are to be preserved in the ordi- 

 nary way, in drawers or cabinets, must be spread out and 

 held in position while the body is drying so that the wings 

 will remain expanded. For this pm-pose, some form of a 

 setting board is necessary. These may be bought of deal- 

 ers or made at home. One of the simplest kinds consists 

 of two thin strips of pine board, a foot or more long, 

 nailed to end pieces with a space between the two boards 

 wide enough to accommodate the bodies of the butter- 

 flies. Beneath this open space, a piece of thin cork is 

 tacked. The pin on which the butterfly is fastened is 

 pushed through the cork until the wings of the insect 

 are level with the boards. The wings are then brought 

 forward with a needle point until they are in the desired 

 position and they are then held in place by pieces of glass 

 or by bits of cardboard fastened down by pins. The 

 butterflies must be left in this position until thoroughly 

 dry. 



Special insect pins should be used for butterflies. 

 These are longer than common pins and have rounded 

 heads. They are offered for sale by entomological deal- 

 ers. Instead of pinning the insects and preserving them 



