MODE OF SETTING BEETLES. 29 



On returning- home, tlie entomologist slionld take out the 

 cork from the laurel-bottle, and empty the insects into some 

 boiling water, as some of the species have the strongest objec- 

 tion to die, and, after they have been apparently killed, have 

 a habit of reviving in a manner that is rather startling to 

 the young entomologist. It is no uncommon thing for an ' in- 

 sect-hunter to capture a number of Beetles, set them, put them 

 away in the ' setting-box,' and then, after a week or so, to lind 

 three or four of them kicking about and doing their best to 

 escape. Some of the Geodephaga have been known to drag 

 the pin from the board, and, though still impaled, to devour 

 their fellow sutferers. 



Ordinary Beetles can be taken by hand, but for the very 

 small species the forceps is used. This instrument should 

 be of good length. The regular dealers otfer for sale a brass 

 forceps about two inches in length. This, is nearly useless. 

 Get the forceps of steel, at least four inches long, and made 

 with a curve. The curved forceps is just as useful as the 

 straight instrument for picking up a Beetle from the ground, 

 while it can be inserted into crevices which the straight 

 forceps could not enter. 



' Setting ' Beetles is not a difficult matter. For moderately- 

 sized Beetles the following plan answers perfectly. Take a tine 

 pin, such as are sold for tlie purpose, and pass it through the 

 disc of the right elytron, and so iix the Beetle on a board. Now 

 draw out its legs, and place them in their natural position, 

 fixing them, if required, with pins and little bits of card-board. 

 Treat the antennae and palpi in the same way, and nothing 

 more is needed. 



Very small Beetles should be fixed on white card-board with 

 coaguline. If the cement be well thinned, there will be plenty 

 of time to fix the legs and antennse before it sets. Only one 

 Beetle shoidd be set on one piece of card. In all cases, if the 

 Beetle have wings, and several specimens can be procured, one of 

 them should be set with the wings expanded as in flight ; and, 

 when card is used, one specimen should be laid on its back, so 

 that the structure of the mouth can be exa«iined. Should a 

 more detailed examination be required, nothing is easier than to 

 damp the card-board, remove the insect, and replace it after its 

 structure has been investigated. 



