[ 2 ] 



the hind wings backward so as to leave a considerable gap 

 between them and the fore wings. 



It has been already stated that there is no one British 

 method, but a great variety, differing widely from each other and 

 from the continental. The pins used are of British make and 

 superior in stiffness to those supplied by the continental makers. 

 There is no attempt at uniformity in length, but the size of the 

 pin is regulated by that of the insect. The insect is pierced so 

 that the pin slopes forward, but there is no uniform or standard 

 slope; and, indeed, such a standard would be far more difficult to 

 attain than under the continental method, in which the upright 

 pin is required. Even the longest pins (i| inches) used are 

 inferior in length to the continental pins. In the older collec- 

 tions set in England the insect was placed very low on the pin, so 

 low in fact that the edges of the wings (hind margins), which 

 were made to slope downwards, rested on the paper lining of the 

 cabinet drawer. The obvious danger and injury involved in 

 this position — the tendency to curl up — the ready accumulation 

 of dust — the convenient access afforded to mites, etc. — the 

 want of a space on the pin below the insect for the attach- 

 ment of labels — gradually caused its abandonment ; so that, in 

 most modern English collections, the insects are fixed higher 

 on the pin ; but here again there is no standard, some collectors 

 being satisfied if the insect be just clear of the bottom of the 

 drawer, others raising it until only from ^V to I inch of pin 

 projects above it, as in the continental method, others again 

 adopting an intermediate position. The wings are set less 

 forward than in the latter method, and care is exercised to 

 preserve the natural amount of overlap of the fore over the 

 hind wing. Instead of the fiat setting the aim has been to 

 make the wings slope downwards away from the body of the 

 insect, and to increase the slight, natural curvature of the 

 insect's wings. This is usually accomplished by curved 

 setting-boards, but it has been brought about by means of 

 cardboard slips placed /w/oiv the central part of the wings, 

 together with other slips a^ove their outer part, the elasticity 



