THE PRESERVATION OF SPECIMENS. 



303 



Wire for 

 mounting skin of larva. 



skin great care should be taken not to heat it too 

 much so as to destroy the colors. 



When the skin is dry, remove it from the tube 

 and mount it on a piece of covered copper wire, 

 which has been bent about a small 

 piece of cork through which an in- 

 sect pin is pushed, as shown in Fig. 

 270. The two ends of the wire are 

 inserted in the opening from which 

 the glass tube has been removed, a 

 drop of glue having been previously ^^^J^;\ 

 put on each of the ends (Fig. 271). 



Spreading Insects. — With many insects it is de- 

 sirable to spread the wings at right angles to the 

 length of the body. Not only do the specimens ap- 

 pear better when prepared this way, but such prepa- 

 ration is necessary in order to see the markings and 

 structure of the wings. This is especially true in the 

 case of butterflies and moths, which are usually 



spread before being 

 placed in a permanent 

 collection. 



For spreading in- 

 sects a device known as 

 a spreading board is 

 used. This consists of 

 two strips of wood fas- 

 tened a short distance apart, so as to leave a groove 

 for the body of the insect, and upon which the wings 

 are fastened in position and left until the insect is 

 dry (Fig. 272). A narrow strip of cork is tacked to 

 the lower side of the two strips of wood ; this closes 

 the groove below, and serves as a support for the 



Fig. 271.— a mounted inflated skin. 



