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the wings in as natural a position as is consistent with their 

 proper display, the latter being, of course, the paramount con- 

 sideration. Some judgment will be necessary in dealing with 

 insects of which the habits are unknown. I think it may be 

 assumed that the natural amount of overlap — easily distin- 

 guished by the characteristic texture and appearance of that 

 part of the hind wings which is naturally concealed— should 

 always be retained. 



The feeling in favour of this or that form of setting, apart 

 from the considerations of utility, is largely, if not entirely, 

 a question of fashion. As a boy I looked on the continental 

 setting with horror ; now the sight of the sloping wings in 

 contact with the paper gives me a cold chill. It is probably 

 the case that a very large number of our collectors are still 

 strongly in favour of some form of the English method. To 

 these I would urge the advantage of uniformity, and would 

 point out that the method they still follow is disappearing 

 with all possible speed. The British Museum, the Godman- 

 Salvin Collection, Mr. Herbert Druce's Collection, and the 

 Hope Collection are all being rapidly transformed in the 

 direction I have indicated. The method was first shown 

 on a large scale in this country in the fine collection of 

 Mr. Elwes. Whatever our preferences may be, the question 

 is being rapidly settled on grounds of expediency, and 

 the sooner the change is effected the better it will be for 

 everybody. 



Before concluding I must say a few words about labelling. 

 The most important fact is, of course, the locality, and this 

 should be precise and exact : next in importance is the date 

 of capture ; next the name of captor ; then the date of 

 presentation and the name of donor. Of some interest 

 for future workers is a statement as to the authorship of 

 the manuscript label. As regards locality, at Oxford we 

 make a point of printing the most important word first and 

 in capitals ; then follows the more minute locality and the 

 height above the sea, if attainable. Examples of the labels 



