PRESERVING INSECTS. 
77 
in aquafortis or oxalic acid. Small insects in 
quills are immediately killed, by putting* the 
quills into hot water. Minute Hymenoptera 
may be killed by dropping them in scalding 
water, and if a piece of stiff paper or card be 
placed under them, they may be taken up and 
set with their wings and legs extended, the 
moisture being sufficient to keep them in place. 
Having hilled the insects, the next step is to 
preserve them. Beetles should be pierced by 
pins adapted to their size, in a perfectly up- 
right position, through the right wing case 
{Elytron')* at least a quarter of an inch, and 
never through the thorax. The legs and an- 
tennce should be displayed in a natural position 
on the setting board, and kept so by means of 
bent pins, and braces, and the mouth of each 
specimen, if possible, should be expanded. The 
wings and wing cases of beetles, &c. may be 
extended by piercing the insect in the centre, 
between the two cases, and bracing them as 
shewn PI. 1 , fig. 4 . Minute beetles and other 
insects, should be gummed f on small wedges 
of card or stiff paper, and the wedges stuck with 
* The artist has h}^ mistake placed tlie pin on tlie 
left side PI. 1, f. 1 . 
t Common gum water will not hold sufficiently strong, 
a little isinglass should be mixed with it. 
G 2 
