INTRODUCTORY PAPERS ON ICHNEUMONIDZ. 3l 
each of which has its advantages and disadvantages ; no doubt, 
generally speaking, carding is the better plan, because the insects 
are less liable to be injured in examination and transit than if 
they were pinned. Should they be carded it is better to cut 
a V-shaped piece out of the card, and place the head and shoulders 
over the aperture. Thus made, the piece can very easily and 
neatly be cut out with a pair of punching-pliers, such as are used by 
the railway officials to snip the tickets ; this allows the examina- 
tion of the face and under part of the front legs. It is a good 
plan to leave one wing free, as by this means the side of the 
thorax and coxe are exposed, or, better still, to card one specimen 
on its back when no doubt exists as to the specimens belonging 
to the same species. In pinning carded specimens a rather long 
strong pin is a great advantage (No. 14 is a good pin for this 
purpose). The general directions for neat and successful carding 
are fully entered into in the next article by Dr. Capron, who is 
quite a maestro’ dell’arte. Ifthe insects are to be pinned always 
use a long pin; it is better to have the pin too long than too 
short, as with the latter many insects must accidentally become 
damaged whilst handling them. No.7 was the pin generally used 
by the late Mr. Frederick Smith, and is a very useful pin, but for 
some even a larger one may be used with advantage. But what- 
ever size is used the insect should be placed well up the pin, so 
that the legs may not be injured when stuck into the store-box or 
cabinet, and besides, it allows room for a Jabel to be put on the 
pin beneath the insect. For setting nothing is better than 
two thicknesses of cork fastened on a flat board, and covered with 
white paper. The legs can then be extended, and the wings held 
in position by small card braces ; if the insects have been kept a 
day or two in the damp box no difficulty need be experienced 
with the wings; should they not fall at once into their places 
they may easily be made to do so by pressing the base of 
the metathorax gently with the handle of the setting-needle 
(which may be cut wedge-shaped for the purpose) towards the 
head, when the wings will immediately fly forwards and down- 
wards. As it will be found better to pin some Ichneumons and 
card others, when special setting is advantageous, it will be 
hereafter referred to. 
As we have above stated, the _ Ichneumonide have been divided 
into six principal groups or families, principally by the shape of 
