THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 257 



the largest boxes used and raise the lids on one side, so as 

 to leave a very narrow opening to admit the fumes of sulphur ; 

 I then pile the boxes one upon another in a pyramidal heap, 

 and over the pile I place a bell-shaped glass, usually six 

 inches in diameter, but the size will vary according to the 

 number of boxes ; I then take a little powdered sulphur on 

 the end of a thin piece of flat wood (a match in fact), light 

 the sulphur, and place it beneath the bell-glass, — this process 

 will sometimes require repeating once or twice, until the 

 sulphur will no longer burn beneath the glass; it is then 

 sufficiently charged. In this condition I leave it for about 

 half an hour. 1 then empty the contents of the pile of boxes 

 into two or three larger ones, recharge the bell-glass, under 

 which 1 place the boxes of insects, and leave them until the 

 following morning : the insects will then be in a proper 

 condition for setting. Every insect will be found in the most 

 perfect condition : pubescent ones, such as humble-bees, 

 have not a hair disturbed, and they can be pinned without a 

 chance of any liquid oozing out of the thorax and matting 

 the pubescence. My method of setting and drying specimens 

 is as follows: — For the latter process I use a drying-cage, 

 with door and back covered with net (perforated zinc would 

 answer as well, if not better): the cage has several setting- 

 boards resting upon slips of wood, and corked on one side, 

 the cork being half an inch thick, thus allowing the insects 

 to be pinned at a proper height. The setting process is very 

 easy and simple : having run a pin through the thorax, 

 slightly before the middle of its disk, I mount it on to the 

 setting-board, running the pin into the cork, until the under 

 side of the thorax very nearly touches the cork ; the next 

 thing to be done is to arrange the legs in a natural position 

 by the aid of fine plyers and setting-needles, securing the 

 limbs in position, when necessary, with pins; on each side 

 of the specimen I place a table for expanding the wings 

 upon ; this is simply a strip of good, stout Bristol-board, that 

 is, stout card. These tables must be of various sizes, and 

 used according to the size of the wings of the insect. 

 Having fixed the tables firmly, I place the wings upon them 

 with a setting-needle, and having, by a little manipulation, if 

 necessary, hooked the wings together, push them forwards 

 into the required position, holding them there with a needle, 



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