260 ENTOMOLOGY. 



ing pins, and rearranging wings and legs, is sure to remove a certain 

 number of scales and spoil the appearance of the insect, besides ut- 

 terly destroying its value. I raise each of the fore wings with a pin, 

 and fix the pin against the inner margin so as to keep them in position 

 while I apply the braces. Half the battle is really in the pinning. 

 When an insect is pinned through the exact centre of the thorax, 

 with the pin properly sloped forward, the body appears to fall natu- 

 rally into its position on the setting-board, and the muscles of the 

 wings, being left free, are easily directed and secured: but if the pin 

 is not put exactly in the middle, it interferes with the play of the 

 wings. Legs must be placed close against the body or they will pro- 

 ject and interfere with the set of the wings. Practice, care, and a 

 steady hand will succeed. When all the insects that have been killed 

 are set, the contents of the canister will be found again ready, twenty 

 minutes being amply sufficient to expose to the fumes of ammonia. 

 Very bright green or pale pink insects should be killed by some 

 other process, say chloroform, as ammonia will affect their colors. 



"Insects should be left on the setting boards a full week to dry ; 

 then the braces may be carefully removed and they may be trans- 

 ferred to the store-box. 



" Having given some account of the process each insect goes 

 through, I will say a word as to the apparatus required. 



" First as to nets. The simplest net is a strong, circular iron wire 

 hoop with a bag of book-muslin attached, fastened into a light deal 

 or other handle. 



" I use a small pocket net about nine inches in diameter, made to 

 fold up, with a jointed wire frame and a screw to fit into a brass 

 socket in a short cane-handle. To counteract the strain of the net 

 upon so slight a frame the three wire joints are made flat, the two 

 side joints flattened across the strain, the upper one the reverse way ; 

 but to prevent this upper joint from coming into play when the 

 net is fixed, the upper part of the screw which holds the frame to the 

 handle is welded square and fits a corresponding square socket in the 

 other end of the wire frame, holding all tight when screwed down. 

 A small green silk or other net can be slipped on or off this frame as 

 required. 



"An umbrella net with stout steel rim and canvas edging is useful 

 for sweeping tall grass and herbage, or to beat branches into, by 

 which means many small and beautiful species of retired habits may 

 be obtained. 



"I use pill- boxes with glass bottoms, which can be obtained of var- 

 ious sizes. They arc convenient in admitting of the examination of each 

 specimen, so rare species can be especially searched for, and damaged 

 ones permitted to escape ; but they are expensive, and for ordinary 



