THE INSECT COLLECTION 



169 



sixteenth inch wide at the base and tapering to a point, the 

 width of the point depending to some extent on the size of 

 the insect to be mounted. These points are pinned, the pin 

 being placed as near to the base as possible. The insect 

 is glued to the other end of the point, glue, shellac or 

 Canada balsam being used for the sticking material. The 

 point is so arranged 

 that it reaches only to 

 the middle of the 

 under side of the in- 

 sect, the insect being 

 in such a position that 

 the head points forward 

 while the insect is to 

 the left of the pin. 



Still smaller insects 

 may be mounted in 

 Canada balsam or gly- 

 cerine on glass slides 

 for study under the 

 microscope. 



All insects collected 

 should be labeled. For 

 pinned insects this is 

 accomplished by pin- 

 ning small slips of paper 



with the desired data on the pin just beneath the insect. 

 Several such slips may be used. The data placed on the 

 slips should include the date, the locality and the name 

 of the collector, the latter being the least important. In 

 many cases the name of the plant upon which the insect 

 was found is added. Notebook data may be and should 

 be more extensive. It is a good plan to have accession 



FIG. 121. Insect Collection Arranged 

 in Home-made Exhibition Cases. 



