CARDING 189 



In the second method, first prepare a paste 

 of gum tragacanth and clear gum arable in a 

 little water. The paste should be white, and 

 so stiff that it will not pour out. Place the 

 beetle on its back, and with a camel's-hair 

 brush draw out its legs and antennae. Put 

 some of the paste on a stout card, lay the 

 beetle on it, legs undermost, and with a bent 

 needle or clean brush draw the hind limbs 

 into position, as shown in Plate No. VIII. 

 When all are drawn out and this needs a 

 light hand and a good temper let the card 

 stand till the specimen is dry. Then float 

 the card in a basin of water till the beetle 

 comes off. Take a clean card of suitable 

 size, put some fresh gum on it, and place 

 the beetle thereon. When dry, cut away any 

 superfluous card, and secure the specimen 

 in your collection by means of a thin pin 

 run through the portion of the card behind 

 the insect. Personally, I prefer 'carding' 

 as a mode of preserving beetles. It avoids 

 damaging the wing cases a matter of 

 moment in the case of beetles, which are 

 distinguished from each other less by colour 

 than by shape, sculpture, and markings. 



