INSTRUCTIONS IN LEPIDOPTERA. 23 



How to pin Lepidoptera. 



In the first place the collector must supply himself with 

 solid-headed pins, which he may obtain of W. Gale, Crown 

 Court, Cheapside, London ; they are sold in half ounce boxes, 

 and Entomologists in the country can have them forwarded 

 by post. 



The proper sizes to order are No. 6 for Sphinges and Bomhyces. 

 ,, ,, „ No. 8 for Noctuse. 



„ ,, ,, No. 8 and No. 10 for Geometrae. 



,, ,, ,, Nos. 19 and 20 for Micro-Lepidoptera. 



The pin must be inserted in the centre of the thorax, and 

 held as nearly as possible vertical, if anything with the point 

 rather inclining backwards; many collectors hold them with 

 the point inclining forwards, which gives the insect, when set, 

 rather a silly appearance : the pin should be pushed well 

 through the insect, so as to take firm hold of the cork, about 

 one-third of an inch at least, projecting beneath the thorax of 

 the insect. 



Mow to set Lepidoptera. 



The variety of apparatus that has been invented for this 

 purpose would be rather puzzling to a beginner. Grooved 

 and rounded corks are used by many for setting the Noctuce 

 and GeometridcB upon, and those who have seen such con- 

 trivances can imitate them, but to explain them accurately 

 by description would be difficult. For those who have not 

 such contrivances we therefore recommend a sheet of pre- 

 pared cork, which should be glued on to a flat piece of wood, 

 so as to keep it steady and prevent it from warping ; then 

 cut some braces of thick card-board of various lengths, from 

 three-fourths of an inch to two inches, tapering nearly to a 

 point at one end, the other end being about one-fourth of an 

 inch broad; insert on the brace at this broad end a good 



