20 THE BOOK OF BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



My own plan is quite a different one. After the 

 butterfly has been pinned in the groove, a small strip of 

 paper (called a brace) is taken and one end pinned 

 down, as in the lower part of Fig. 6, over the costal 

 margin of one of the fore-wings. Next holding the 

 other end of the brace between the thumb and first 

 finger of the left hand, the two wings on one side are 

 carefully disposed by the aid of a setting-needle held in 

 the right. When both wings are thus drawn into posi- 

 tion, the strip of paper is brought down over them 

 with the left hand and kept in place by a pin. The 

 other side having been similarly treated, other strips are 

 put over the edges of the wings to prevent their curl- 

 ing as they dry. In my opinion, these braces are best 

 made of transparent tracing-paper, so that the general out- 

 line of the butterfly may be seen through them (as shown 

 in the lower part of Fig. 6). It is then possible to be 

 quite certain, when the setting is finished, that the wings 

 on the two sides are properly balanced. 



The wings being arranged, the abdomen and antennae 

 must next be very carefully attended to, and held in 

 their proper places by pins. The legs, too, of those 

 butterflies that are intended to show the under-surface 

 will require attention, for it looks very untidy to see all 

 the legs pointing in different directions. The legs, by 

 the way, are very easily broken off. 



But one step now remains to dry the butterflies that 

 have been set. They must be kept out of the dust, and 

 should, if possible, be placed in a current of air. 

 Drying-houses made for the express purpose may be 

 bought, but the expense is considerable, and they seem 

 to me to be quite unnecessary for the ordinary collector. 

 Everybody with a little searching can find a safe place 

 for his setting-boards ; but he must recollect that cock- 



