SETTING INSECTS 647 



While the process of drying is going on — a px-ocess that 

 takes from one to five weeks, according to the size of the insect 

 — the boards must be protected from dust and the attacks of 

 other insects. I have always employed a ' setting-box,' which 

 can be made by any lad with the least notion of carpentering. 

 Take any conveniently sized box, with a closely fitting lid, cut 

 a large square piece out of the lid, another out of the bottom 

 of the box, and supply their place with wire gauze. Turn the 

 box on its side, so that the lid opens like a door, and nail strips 

 of wood on either end, so that a number of setting boards can 

 be placed on them, like shelves in a book-case. Leave two 

 inches clear space between the boards. Such a box is particu- 

 larly useful, as it can be shifted from place to place at the will 

 of the owner, and can be arranged in any spot where there is a 

 draught of dry air. 



Care must be taken not to dry insects too rapidly, as the 

 wings generally warp and the body shrinks. Provided that a 

 current of dry air be kept up, the process of drying cannot be 

 too long, and above all things the young entomologist sliould 

 avoid the fire. It is very tempting to dry an insect by the aid 

 of the fire in half the time that would be occupied by the 

 ordinary process, but such temptations must be strenuously 

 resisted if the collector wishes to have specimens worthy of his 

 cabinet. 



If an insect be badly set, it can easily be relaxed by a very 

 simple process. Bury in the ground a good sized flower- pot, 

 and get a flat stone that will perfectly cover it. Pin the insect 

 on a piece of cork, put it into the flower-pot, cover it over 

 completely, and in two or three days the wings and legs will 

 be relaxed, and can be reset as easily as if the creature were 

 recently killed. In the British Museum there is a neat con- 

 trivance on the same principle. In shallow earthen vessels 

 with tightly fitting covers a layer of sand is placed. The sand 

 is kept damp, and when insects have to be relaxed, they are 

 simply placed in the pan, which is then covered and put 

 aside until the dried limbs are sufficiently moistened. 



I am often asked to give hints as to the proper construction 

 of a cabinet, and my reply is, that, unless the entomologist has 

 plenty of money, he had better not have a cabinet at all. A 

 good cabinet is a very expensive affair, and to procure one 



