132 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



thick. Again, in moving insects about, the chance of such a 

 mishap as a body flying off, or the pin giving way, would be 

 reduced to a minimum. Thirdly, under the present system 

 characteristic markings and structures of the thorax are fre- 

 quently obliterated or destroyed, and it is not uncommon to find 

 one or more of the legs carried away by the pin. With insects 

 unpinned this could not be the case. 



These considerations induced me to devote some time to the 

 subject, and, after numerous experiments and almost as numerous 

 failures, a simple method has been devised, the results of which 

 are in every respect encouraging and satisfactory. 



To ensure success in the process adopted a careful attention 

 to matters of detail is imperative. Supports for the insects are 

 prepared by cutting blocks of corks (about a sixteenth of an inch 

 long), and a small pin passed through each one. At right 

 angles to this another and longer pin is pushed about half its 

 length through the cork, so that when the large pin is stuck 

 upright in the setting-board the small one is parallel with its 

 surface. Numbers of these supports can be made in a very few 

 minutes, and when once made will last for a long time. The 

 insect, after being killed, is placed upon its back on a glass 

 plate, a 3 in. by 1 in. microscopic slide answering the purpose 

 admirably. A drop of "coaguline" is now put on to the small 

 pin, which is then gently pressed against the under side of the 

 thorax, causing it to adhere to the pin. If this has been neatly 

 and quickly done the insect is firmly fixed along the pin by the 

 under side of the body, with its head towards the cork block. 

 The wings and antennse may now be blown out, the support fixed 

 into the groove of the setting-board by the large pin, and the 

 insect set in the usual way. After drying and the removal of 

 the braces the slightest jerk given to the pin, or the gentle heat 

 from a hot needle, will detach the insect from its support. 

 Finally it is mounted with gum tragacanth on little blocks of 

 elder-pith, through which a pin has been passed. The head 

 should be made to project a little beyond the pith-block, so as to 

 enable the palpi, &c, to be examined from beneath. The glass 

 plate is used to avoid a rough surface, which might remove some 

 of the scales from the wings. Kay's Coaguline is found to be 

 the best for fixing the insect to the pin, on account of its rapid 

 coagulating properties. Gum tragacanth is preferable for the 



