INSECTS. 79 



smooth on the surface, with white paper pasted over it. 

 Several boards will be required, by persons who are making 

 collections, as some of the insects take a considerable time to 

 dry, so that they may be fit for introducing into a cabinet. 



The boards should be kept in a frame made for the purpose. 

 It should consist of a top, bottom, and two sides ; the back and 

 front should have the frames of doors, attached by small hinges, 

 and their centres covered with fine gauze, for the free passage 

 of air ; the sides should have small pieces of wood projecting 

 from them, for the boards to rest on ; which should be at such 

 a distance from each other, that the pins may not be displaced, 

 in pushing the boards in, or drawing them out. The frame 

 should be placed in a dry airy situation. 



BRACES. These are merely small pieces of card, cut in the 

 form exhibited on plate IV., attached to the Butterfly, and 

 other insects ; and also at No. 17. They are pinned down on 

 the insects, to keep their wings, &c., in a proper state, till they 

 acquire a set. 



SETTING AND PRESERVING INSECTS. 



Of the Orders COLEOPTERA, ORTHOPTERA, and HEMIPTERA. 

 These are very easily preserved. 



They are killed by immersing 1 ill scalding water, and then 

 laid upon blossom or blotting paper, for the purpose of absorb- 

 ing as much of the moisture as possible ; or they may be placed 

 in a tin box, with a little camphor in it, near the fire, which 

 soon kills them. This is besides of considerable effect in their 



preservation. 



~~Insects of the genera Gryllus (Cricket), Locusta (Locusts), 

 &c., have tender bodies, and are sure to shrivel in drying. 

 The intestines should therefore be extracted, while they are 

 yet moist, and the skin fillecfwith cotton, as directed with some 

 of the spiders, at page 72. 



When Coleopterous insects are set with the wings displayed, 

 the elytra should be separated, and the pin passed through 

 their body, near the middle of the thorax, as in plate IV., fig. 

 3, a. The wings are exhibited as in the act of flying, and 

 are retained in this situation until they are quite dry, by the 

 cord-braces, 6 and c. The insects of this order should always 



