46 



BBITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 



the letter W, and these will serve for the under braces ; 

 put the insect midway between them, and then, with a 

 setting-needle, hold out the wings whilst the upper 

 braces are brought down upon them, taking care that 

 the wings on each side are put out symmetrically, and 

 that the ends do not turn up. 



There are various elaborate contrivances for facilitating 

 the labour of setting out butterflies and moths, and some 

 entomologists have special corks rounded to the curve 

 which they prefer for the wings, and with grooves for 



Section of cork setting-frame, and method of setting on ditto 

 (Spilosoma menthastri) . 



the bodies ; those who adopt the plan of setting their 

 specimens with the wings flat, have simply grooves cut 

 for the bodies of the insects. 



Insects, when set out, require to be left on the setting - 

 board two or three days, till they are quite stiff and dry, 

 before the braces are removed. The setting-board should 

 be kept in a box with a perforated metal side, and must 

 on no account be left perfectly exposed, otherwise the 

 collector's best specimens will be liable to the attacks 

 of marauders, viz, mice, cockroaches, wasps, earwigs. 

 Even shut-up insects, especially if left for any time on 



