90 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Mar., '04 



pin is made, just like a common household white pin, and 

 never comes off. 



The smaller ones are German made, and known as Minutien 

 Nadeln ; thej' are very fine, also steel, black- japanned and 

 needle-pointed, length about half an inch ; their use involves 

 a double mount, which will be referred to later. 



Avoid as a pestilence anj' pin, white, black or gold, that is 

 part or all brass. Verdigris will surely result sooner or later. 

 Also avoid steel pins with heads made of a different metal 

 squeezed on. These heads will come off at most inopportune 

 times, and the resultant spring of the pin will send the wings 

 and abdomen in every direction. 



Don't permit the dealer to sell what he has in stock, but 

 insist on the right sort and he will be forced to get a supply 

 of them. 



Pinning. — Half the work of good setting is the way the 

 pin is put through the thorax. It should rake well 

 forward and the point should enter as nearly as 

 possible the exact center of the thorax, and if the 

 proper angle is observed it will come out on the 

 under side through the posterior edge of the last 

 thoracic segment, and thus be clear of and prevent 

 damage to the legs ; as shown in Fig, i. 



Never lift a specimen with your fingers, at any stage of its 

 progress from the net to your cabinet. Always have at hand 

 a small pair of fine-pointed forceps ; the kind jewelers use are 



the best, about 4 inches long, cost about 15 cents; and when- 

 ever a specimen has to be moved (before the pin is in it) use 

 these fine forceps, catching hold by a leg, never by the wing. 

 It requires a little practice and patience to pin properly. I 

 usually lift the insect carefully by one leg and lay it in the 

 crevice formed by holding the forefinger of my left hand 

 against the thumb, always with the head of the insect pointing 

 toward me. Then, with the same forceps in right hand, pick 

 up a Minutien Nadeln, being sure to have the point in the right 



