THE PRESERVATION OF SPECIMENS. 



299 



In pinning leaves a small piece of cardboard 

 should be placed on each side of the leaf and the pin 

 pushed through these. This will hold the specimen 

 firmly in place. 



Pinning Forceps. — In handling pinned specimens 

 pinning forceps are desirable, as by their use there is 



Fig. 267.— Pinning forceps. 



much less danger of bending the pins when pushing 

 them into cork. Several styles of pinning forceps are 

 for sale by dealers; that used by the writer is shown 

 in Fig. 267. As these forceps are quite expensive, 

 comparatively few pupils will care to buy them. A 

 good substitute for them are the " flat-nosed " pliers, 

 which can be obtained at any hardware store. By 

 means of these a 

 delicate pin can be 

 grasped firmly near 

 the point and pushed 

 into soft wood with- 



out bending it. F,g. 368.-Pliers. 



These pliers are somewhat more convenient to use if 

 one corner be ground off, as shown in Fig. 268. 



In transferring specimens that are pinned with 

 slender pins take hold of the head of the pin with 

 the thumb and forefinger of the left hand, and then 

 seize the pin near the point with the pliers. Do 

 all the pushing or pulling with the pliers, but keep 

 the pin from tipping sidewise with the left hand. 

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