184 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



and it is indeed a source of satisfaction to find that the thought 



and labour bestowed upon the subject has resulted in some 



radical changes for the better. I therefore again venture to 



press upon entomologists, especially Micro-Leijidopterists, the 



advisability of giving a fair and impartial consideration to the 



merits of this system and the advantages to which it lays claim. 



The whole process consists essentially of two distinct stnges ; the 



insects have first to be set, and afterwards mounted, upon a 



support, and the way in which this is accomplished I sliall now 



proceed to describe. 



Setting. 



Suppose we have a Nepticula to deal with. After it is killed, 

 throw it on to the setting-board. With the setting needles then 

 turn it on to its ventral surface and hold the insect down (say 

 with the left hand) with one needle by gently pressing the body 

 ■where the abdomen joins the thorax, that is to say, at the base of 

 the anterior wing on the inner margin. A breath will now blow 

 out at least one pair of wings, probably the right hand pair, 

 perhaps both ; but this depends upon the position in which the 

 setting needle is held. If only one pair is blown out, change the 

 setting needle to the right hand and repeat the operation, when 

 all the wings will be expanded. At this stage the position of the 

 legs and antennre may advantageously receive attention, the first 

 and third pairs of legs being the most important. The next 

 thing is to place the insect, wings expanded, upon the groove of 

 the setting-board, but before proceeding further it should be 

 noted that the size of the groove, both as regards width and 

 depth, is a most important matter. It should certainly not be 

 wider than the thorax of the insect, even a tight fit being some- 

 times an advantage, and its depth just sufficient to allow the 

 body to touch the bottom of the groove with the wings resting 

 flat upon the board. With a steady hand now raise the insect up 

 by sliding the two setting needles one under each pair of wings 

 and lifting it into the groove of the board. If the size of the 

 groove has been properly chosen a slight pressure with the 

 needle will suffice to retain the insect in its proper position for 

 setting, or perhaps a pin or a brace may be required for that 

 purpose. The wings are now to be got into position for bracing, 

 which is best accomplished by pushing them up not horizontally, 

 but by working in a curve vertically. A little reflection will show 



