THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 153 
strips of tin soldered to the sides of the box. Before using 
the apparatus the spaces between the cork strips must be 
filled with water; then the butterflies are placed in the box, 
and the apparatus is locked. A circulation of air then takes 
place through the tube, and saturates the space inside with 
moisture, so that in a few hours the butterflies are just as 
pliable as if they had been just caught. But the chief use of 
the machine is that, when a Lepidopterist comes home tired 
at night from all the day’s hunting, he need not sit up for 
hours in order to set his insects. Perhaps it will be useful to 
some of your readers to know of this apparatus. You are 
welcome to make use of my note.—Dr. Kalter; Putbus a. 
Riigen, June 3, 1876. 
Relaxing Insects (Entom. ix. 137).—One of our leading 
entomologists said many years ago that a well-set collection 
was worth a pilgrimage to look at; and I, for one, most 
cordially agree with the remark. It is, however, a thing 
never to be attained, unless one religiously re-sets something 
like fifly per cent. of the specimens received from corre- 
spondents. Many collectors, especially country ones, seem 
to think that the pin leaning—like Major Wellington De Boots’s 
chimney—“ several degrees from the per-pen-di-cu-lar,” in 
any direction, is a matter rather to be admired than other- 
wise; while, of course, bodies, antenne, and legs, are always 
left to shift for themselves. A good systematic plan of 
relaxing specimens, previous to re-setting, is consequently of 
considerable interest to those who take a pride in the appear- 
ance of their collections, and Mr. Kynaston’s query leads me 
to recommend the method I use; a rather long experience 
enabling me to speak highly of it. A deep wooden box, with 
a loosely-fitting lid, is lined to the depth of an inch or so 
with plaster of Paris: this is easily managed by turning the 
box alternately on each side, and pouring in sufficient plaster 
(mixed to the consistency of cream) to cover it to that extent, 
keeping the plaster in its place till set by a slip of wood held 
against the box. By repeating this process for all the four 
sides, and filling up the bottom to the same depth, the box 
may be very neatly finished. The lid is, of course, to be 
coated in a similar way inside. The insects operated on are 
pinned on a tablet of wood coated with cork, which is 
mounted table-wise on little legs and placed inside the box, 
x 
