124 



WORK AT HOME AND IN THE FIELD 



Then, as .to whether there shall be a slope or not, this is a matter 

 of less importance. A very decided sloping of the wings is certainly 

 not so convenient for future examination ; nor does it, to my mind, 

 look nearly so well as both sides hi the same plane, or at a very 

 gentle inclination. But perhaps this subject had better be left to 

 the taste of the reader, remembering, however, that, whatever plan 

 be adopted, all the boards should be alike in this respect, so that 

 there may be a degree of uniformity in the cabinet. 



The surface of the cork must, in all cases, be nicely smoothed 

 down with glass paper, and then covered with thin white paper, 

 fixed to its surface with ordinary paste; 



When insects are on the boards, they should be placed in an 

 airy spot, as free as possible from dust, while they are drying. 

 Hence the advisability of some form of ' drying house.' This is 



simply a box, standing on end, 

 and provided with a hinged door 

 consisting of a sheet of per- 

 forated zinc in a wooden frame. 

 The boards may slide in this on 

 little slips of wood nailed or 

 glued on to the sides, or the 

 wooden bases of the boards may 

 project beyond the cork at the 

 ends, and slide into grooves in 

 the side of the house. 



Beyond these requirements 

 nothing is wanted save a good 

 stock of pins, thin card or ordi- 

 nary writing paper, and a ' setting needle.' The last-named item 

 is simply a needle mounted in a handle, and a good one may be 

 made by thrusting the head of a darning needle into a piece of twig. 

 The pins used for setting that is, for fixing the pieces of paper or 

 card to keep the parts in position may be of the ordinary kind ; 

 but entomological pins are far preferable, even for this purpose ; 

 for, being much thinner, they do not damage and disfigure the 

 setting boards so much. 



Now as to the setting. First see that the pin with which you 

 are to fix your dead insect passes centrally through the thorax. 

 Then fix it firmly on the setting board, its body lying neatly in the 

 groove of the cork. Cut out some little pointed strips of card or 

 paper, and, after bringing the wings into position with the setting 



FIG. 62. A BUTTERFLY ON THE 

 SETTING BOARD. 



