Paisley Method of Setting 



wing on the left side as far forward as you wish it to 

 go, and, while it is held extended by your blowing, 

 bring the cotton down gently across it and there you 

 have it, secured in position. Give two or three extra 

 turns to hold it safe and repeat the operation for the 

 other wing. If the wings should be stiff and refuse to 

 go far enough forward, secure them as far forward as 

 they will blow, with one turn of the cotton only, then 

 gently assist them farther with a setting-needle. When 

 in a satisfactory position, give the few extra turns of 

 the cotton. I can set from sixty to one hundred and 

 twenty insects in an hour by this method. 



In removing an insect from a block, draw a sharp 

 knife across the back of the block and lift off all the 

 cotton at once. If the body of the specimen being set 

 needs support, as sometimes happens, give the cotton 

 two or three cross turns, and with your setting-needle 

 raise the body on to this as shown on Plate VI. One 

 hint more : See that your lines diverge from near the 

 body at the bottom to near the tip of the wings at the 

 top ; the reason for this is that if you have to slip the 

 wing forward under a turn of the thread it will not be 

 damaged if the thread is arranged as indicated, whereas if 

 your thread be laid on, say, from the outer bottom corner 

 in towards the head, it would then scrape the wing, and be 

 sure to remove some of the scales, thus damaging the 

 specimen. The correct method is shown on Plate VI. 

 With ordinary care and usage a good cop should last a 

 year or two. 



After your insects are set, by whatever method, they 

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