WORK AT HOME AND IN THE FIELD 



CHAPTER IX 

 SETTING AND PRESERVING 



Setting and Preserving Butterflies and Moths 



UP to the present we have been dealing only with living forms 

 learning how to catch and rear the Lepidoptera that fall to our 

 lot ; but now we have to become acquainted with the methods of 

 preparing our dead specimens in such a way that they may form a 

 useful collection for future study and reference. Our first attention 

 shall be given to the apparatus necessary for this work. 



The most important requirement is the setting boards, of which 

 several are necessary, the sizes varying according to the dimensions 

 of the different insects to be ' set.' The lengths of all the boards 

 should be the same, not only for the convenience of packing when 

 not in use, but also in order that they may, if required, be arranged 

 neatly in the * drying house ' to be presently described. The widths 

 only will vary, and in this respect the boards must be adapted 

 to the measurements of the insects from tip to tip when the 

 wings are fully expanded. Thus, a set of a dozen boards, ten 

 or twelve inches long, and from one to five inches wide, will do 

 for a good start. Of course you may commence with a smaller 

 number than twelve, but if you really mean to do the thing well, 

 you will eventually require a good stock of boards. 



Here, again, it may be mentioned that all the necessary requi- 

 sites may be purchased ready for use, a set of boards and a drying 

 house complete costing from ten to twenty shillings according to 

 size and quality ; but as the reader, like myself, may prefer to con- 

 struct his own, I will supply him with hints and suggestions suffi- 

 cient for the work. 



Each board is constructed in this way. Cut out and plane up 

 a piece of wood of the required length and breadth, and about one- 

 eighth of an inch thick. Glue on the top of this a layer of cork 



