THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 153 



strips of tin soldered to the sides of the box. Before using 

 the apparatus the spaces between the cork strips must be 

 filled with water ; then the butterflies are placed in the box, 

 and the apparatus is locked. A circulation of air then takes 

 place through the tube, and saturates the space inside with 

 moisture, so that in a few hours the butterflies are just as 

 pliable as if they had been just caught. But the chief use of 

 the machine is that, when a Lepidopterist comes home tired 

 at night from all the day's hunting, he need not sit up for 

 hours in order to set his insects. Perhaps it will be useful to 

 some of your readers to know of this apparatus. You are 

 welcome to make use of my note. — Dr. Katter ; Puthus a. 

 Riigen, June 3, 1876. 



Relaxing Insects (Entom. ix. 1.37). — One of our leading 

 entomologists said many years ago that a well-set collection 

 was worth a pilgrimage to look at; and I, for one, most 

 cordially agree with the remark. It is, however, a thing 

 never to be attained, unless one religiously re-sets something 

 like fifty per cent, of the specimens received from corre- 

 spondents. Many collectors, especially country ones, seem 

 to think that the pin leaning — like Major Wellington De Boots's 

 chimney — "several degrees from the per-pen-di-cu-lar," in 

 any direction, is a matter rather to be admired than otlier- 

 wise ; while, of course, bodies, antennae, and legs, are always 

 left to shift for themselves. A good systematic plan of 

 relaxing specimens, previous to re-setting, is consequently of 

 considerable interest to those who take a pride in the appear- 

 ance of their collections, and Mr. Kynaston's query leads me 

 to recommend the method I use; a rather long experience 

 enabling me to speak highly of it. A deep wooden box, with 

 a loosely- fitting lid, is lined to the depth of an inch or so 

 with plaster of Paris : this is easily managed by turning the 

 box alternately on each side, and pouring in sufl^cient plaster 

 (mixed to the consistency of cream) to cover it to that extent, 

 keeping the plaster in its place till set by a slip of wood held 

 against the box. By repeating this process for all the four 

 sides, and filling up the bottom to the same depth, the box 

 may be very neatly finished. The lid is, of course, to be 

 coated in a similar way inside. The insects operated on are 

 pinned on a tablet of wood coated with cork, which is 

 mounted table-wise on little legs and placed inside the box. 



