hi Lloyd's natural history. 



which goes thoroughly into all the minutiae of collecting, pre- 

 serving, breeding, &c. Poisons, however, are not always easily 

 obtained ; and cyanide sometimes discolours the insects. 



When the insect is killed, it is taken carefully between the 

 finger and thumb, and a pin is passed through the centre of 

 the thorax. The pins used for insects are long, slender, and 

 elastic, with small heads ; and " entomological pins " can be 

 purchased of any dealer in objects of natural history. The 

 pin used should always be proportionate to the size of the 

 insect, and in the case of very small Moths, the fine pins 

 with which they are transfixed are frequently mounted on 

 small oblong stages of pith, through the other end of which a 

 larger pin is passed. 



Insects pinned in the field are put into small wooden boxes, 

 lined with cork, and carried in the pocket ; but many collec- 

 tors prefer to use chip boxes, in which Moths and the smaller 

 Butterflies can be carried home alive. Only one specimen 

 must be put into each box, and the larger and more active 

 species must be killed at once, as they would knock themselves 

 to pieces, if thus imprisoned. Moths asleep on the trunks of 

 srees may very often be pushed into a chip box with the help 

 of the lid, and secured at once. It is necessary to be very 

 particular to keep full boxes in one pocket, and empty ones in 

 another. 



Collectors abroad generally put their captures into papers 

 folded so as to resemble a triangular envelope, by doubling 

 the lower end of an oblong piece of paper across one side, 

 after which the end can be turned down to close it. Most of 

 the insects received from tropical countries are sent home in 

 this way ; but the legs and antennas are liable to be damaged. 



Whenever possible, it is better to set insects before they 

 become stiff ; but if they are stiff, or are received unset, they 

 can easily be relaxed by putting them into a closed vessel 



