PRESERVATION OF INSECTS. 279 



897. In setting insects with expanded wings, a 

 piece of stiff card, pinned through with a stout pin, 

 supports the wings from below ; another similar 

 piece is placed on the wings above ; the two pieces 

 holding the wing immovably fixed : the legs are 

 held in their places by a bent pin. In Lepi- 

 doptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, some Orthoptera, 

 and in Neuroptera, the wings are thus spread, but 

 not in Coleoptera. 



898. In Coleoptera the habit would generally 

 be totally destroyed by opening and spreading 

 out the wings : insects of this class, and also 

 generally those of the class Hemiptera, are set 

 with the wings, and wing-cases quietly folded in 

 the usual position on their backs ; the legs and 

 antennae, however, are carefully placed, and ar- 

 ranged by means of the bent pins. 



899. The bent pins are reduced to this more 

 convenient shape by means of an instrument 

 somewhat resembling a pair of pliers ; it was in- 

 vented by Mr. George Waring, of Bristol, and is 

 now very commonly employed by all entomolo- 

 gists : the old plan was, to fasten a foot in its place 

 by a small card brace. 



900. The value of a collection of insects is of 

 course very much enhanced by exhibiting them in 

 all their stages ; this, however, is but little attended 

 to. A few of our larger Lepidopterous larvae 

 have been preserved in spirits, but this plan ob- 

 viously precludes the simultaneous exhibition of 



