Mar., '04] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 89 



Micro-Lepidoptera — Suggestions. 



By W. D. Kearfott. 

 Part I. — Phuiing and Setting. 



Micro- L,epidoptera in North America are in for a boom, if one 

 dozen letters from new correspondents within the past thirty 

 days, asking for directions of all sorts regarding setting, col- 

 lecting and breeding can be placed in evidence ; and as it 

 would be impossible to do justice to each separately, the 

 Editors of our popular News have offered their pages. 



These suggestions make no attempt to illustrate all the ways 

 that each thing can be done, but only an effort to describe in 

 a simple' manner that can readily be followed by any bo}^ or 

 girl, at little expense, the methods and apparatus that I have 

 used for the past five 3'ears, during which time I have col- 

 lected, bred or received and mounted over twenty thousand 

 specimens. 



One of the most important things to get over is the fear 

 most of us have that because an insect is very small we will 

 certainly spoil it. This will surely be the result if we do not 

 bear in mind that a small body contains but little moisture and 

 will dry out and become stiff in a few hours on a summer day, 

 unless a tight metal (zinc is best) collecting box is used, in 

 which the cork can be moistened once in a while ; and also 

 that a setting board with a half-inch slot is not suited for 

 spreading an insect that expands but little more. 



Also remember that practice makes perfect, and do not be 

 discouraged if the first or second or third attempt results in 

 fairly good studies of venation but more or less poor cabinet 

 specimens ; persevere, and in the fourth or fifth or tenth at- 

 tempt we will want to call in all the family to see how skillful 

 we are becoming. 



Pins. — I use only two sizes, the larger, English, made by 

 Kirby, and known as No. i Steel, needle-pointed, black 

 japanned. These are very thin and remarkably stiff, made of 

 spring steel ; the head and point can almost be bent together 

 and when released will spring back perfectly straight. The 

 head of this pin is pressed out of the same wire of which the 



