274 GRAMMAR OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



CHAPTER IV. 



OF KILLING AND SETTING INSECTS. 



878. ALTHOUGH the author is fully satisfied 

 that insects have not the acute sense of pain pos- 

 sessed by ourselves and warm-blooded animals, 

 yet he wishes to impress on the collectors of 

 insects, that it is unjustifiable to subject any 

 animals to even the possibility of suffering for our 

 own gratification. 



879. Therefore let us resolve to adhere to two 

 rules ; first, to destroy no more specimens than 

 are really requisite ; secondly, to kill them in the 

 most certain and expeditious manner : under any 

 circumstances, the reflection that we have done 

 this will be agreeable. 



880. Butterflies and moths require to be pinned 

 immediately on being taken : the pin is passed 

 through the scutum of the mesothorax, in the very 

 centre, the finger and thumb of the left hand, at 

 the same time, pinching the insect under the 



