PRESERVING INSECTS. 
79 
the purpose, and pierced with a pin in the 
centre of the underside of the thorax. A 
single brace for each wing will often be suffi- 
cient, but in general several will be required as 
represented in PI. 1 . fig. 3 . In piercing insects, 
it should always be remembered, that the pin 
should extend at least a quarter of an inch 
through the insect. To set insects well, re- 
quires considerable practice, and it would per- 
haps be too great a tax upon the patience of 
those who collect for their friends. It is, how- 
ever, needless to trouble them, as the Entomo- 
logist can always relax the insects sent, and in 
most cases would prefer setting them himself. 
But they must be pierced as upright as pos- 
sible. Small moths require very great care in 
piercing. After being killed as above directed, 
they should be shaken out of the box into the 
palm of the hand, and the pin passed through 
the thorax, (without touching the insect with 
the fingers,) the head of the pin inclining very 
much over the head of the insect; by this 
means, when the pin is placed upright on the 
setting board, the moth will be in such a posi- 
tion, that it will only be necessary to elevate 
the wings slightly with the setting needle, and 
the insect will be completely set, without the 
aid of braces. 
