the level of the upper surface, of the board (see Plate D, Figs. 6 and 7; and Plate 

 E, Figs, d, e,f). They should also be provided either with a cleft or a hole which 

 will permit the pin to be thrust down below the body of the insect for a considerable 

 distance. As a rule the wings of all specimens should be mounted at a uniform 

 elevation of about seven eighths of an inch above the point of the pin. This is 

 known as the "continental method" of mounting, and is infinitely preferable to 

 the old-fashioned "English method," in which the insect was pinned low down 

 upon the pin, so that its wings touched the surface of the box. 



Setting blocks are most advantageously employed in mounting small species, 

 especially the Hesperiidae, the wings of which are apt to be refractory. When the 

 insect has been pinned upon the setting board or setting block, the next step is to 

 set the wings in the position which they are to maintain when the specimen is 

 thoroughly dry. This is accomplished by means of what are known as "setting 

 needles. " Setting needles may be easily made by simply sticking ordinary needles 

 into wooden matches from which the tips have been removed; steel insect pins will 

 serve as well. In drawing the wings into position, care should be taken to plant 

 the setting needle or pin behind the strong nervure on the costal margin of the wing; 

 otherwise the wings are liable to be torn and disfigured. The rule in setting lepi- 

 doptera is to draw the anterior wing forward in such a manner that the hind margin 

 of this wing is at right angles to the axis of the body, the axis of the body being a 



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