1 6 THE BOOK OF BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



b. Difference between male and female, and in what proportion 



taken or bred. 



c. Date of coming out and ceasing to fly. Hibernation (if winter 



is passed at this stage). 



d. If more than one brood, dates, and differences between them. 



e. Manner of flying, favourite resting-places, time of day and 



state of weather when on the wing. 



f. Localities, and local varieties, with causes, if possible. 



g. Peculiar habits, &c. 



h. Parasites and other enemies. 



Setting. 



We will suppose we have a butterfly, freshly caught. 

 How is it to be set ? It will not, as many people 

 seem to imagine, of its own accord arrange its wings 

 and antennae in such a way as to make it fit for 

 the cabinet. We must first have setting-boards, which may 

 either be manufactured by the collector or bought ready 

 made. Since they are very cheap, it is better to adopt 

 the latter alternative. Four or five sizes will be required 

 in order to suit the size of the bodies of the different 

 butterflies and the stretch of their wings. There are 

 two types of setting-board : one with the surface of the 

 slope curved, the other not. In the natural state, I 

 suppose, a butterfly never does curve its wings ; but, 

 personally, I must confess I prefer a butterfly set 

 on a curved setting-board, if the curve is not too 

 pronounced. Vertical sections of the two types of board 

 are given in Figs. 3 and 4. It will be seen that they 

 have a deal base covered with an upper surface of cork, 

 and there is a strip of cork, about in. thick, glued 

 along the groove that is to contain the butterfly's body. 

 Some people manage to dispense with the cork, and use 

 setting-boards made entirely of deal; but it is false 

 economy pins are easily blunted, and the slightest 

 touch knocks them out of the wood, and in this way 



