NOTES UPON SETTING LEPIDOPTERA UNPINNED, 187 



properly extended ; the middle pair would no doubt suffer in this 

 respect, but such a trifling drawback weighs nothing against the 

 important advantages secured by this method. Just lately I was 

 told that the shadows cast at night time by the pins on the 

 paper beneath were embarrassing, but this applies to all 

 insects set high up on the pin, and surely a greater objection 

 belongs to our present system, where these shadows are cast, 

 not beneath, but across the insects themselves. I am quite 

 unable to claim any economy of time for the new process, for, 

 although the setting is facilitated, there is the mounting to do 

 afterwards, the complete process occupying about the same 

 time. The smaller the insects the greater the advantages of this 

 system over the old method. In conclusion, I may say that 

 to any one sending me a postal box I shall be most happy to 

 return a few specimens set unpinned, and give any further 

 information in my power. As an inducement to entomologists 

 to give it a trial, I can say that I have never failed to set even 

 the smallest Micro in this way. No one, I think, would 

 guarantee to do this by pinning Nepticulas, and I am on the 

 look-out for something more diminutive than a Nept'icida to 

 experiment upon. I should be thankful to any entomologist 

 who would send me a few Diptera or any other atom, and 

 would do my best to return them properly set. 



24, Fleming Eoad, Lorrimore Square, S.E., June 3, 1885. 



[Mr. Coverdale has been good enough to send, for my in- 

 spection, two series of Lepidoptera set without pinning, after the 

 manner advocated by him. These consist of Pyrales and Nept'icula;, 

 which are certainly very beautifully set and in exceptionally fine 

 condition. This mode of setting insects (which is so original 

 that it ought to bear the name of its inventor, and be known as 

 " Coverdale setting ") has the great advantage that there need be 

 no loss of scales or other damage upon the side exposed to view, 

 by the insertion of a pin through the thorax, as in ordinary 

 setting. Entomologists are naturally conservative in their habits 

 when considered in connection with their study of insects, whatever 

 may be their politics. Many will resent this as an innovation 

 because it will upset the symmetry of their collections even more 

 than the adoption of a new list of names, or arrangement. All 

 things are, however, regulated by market demand, and when Mr. 



