Vol. xxiv] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 9 



I do most earnestly on account of two very bad features which 

 are evident even when most care is taken in the mounting. 

 This I say in spite of what Prof. C. F. Baker says in his ar- 

 ticle "On Mounting Minute Insects, Particularly Micro-Dip- 

 tera," (2) in which he recommends gluing the specimens on 

 cardboard points, arguing mainly from a technician's view- 

 point, that the various angles which the specimens may other- 

 wise assume, ruins the appearance of the collection. My objec- 

 tions to this and other methods mentioned in this paper of 

 mine, are based upon experience in handling a great mass of 

 material on all sorts of mounts. Regarding the objectionable 

 features of the method above mentioned, the first and most 

 important is the fact that one surface is always inaccessible 

 for examination, and this surface may have the character 

 of most value. If relaxing and remounting could be done, 

 this factor would not be so objectionable. Then again in 

 mounting with glue the legs which are often tightly folded may 

 have to be spread for examination of the bristles, etc., and 

 this is generally impossible on account of softening the mount- 

 ing adhesive. Of course, if the adhesive used is soluble in 

 water this factor is eliminated. The other fault in question 

 is that it is often the case when certain characters are to be 

 examined, the large pin interferes with the line of vision. There 

 still remains another fault which can be eliminated and that 

 is the practice of picking the insect up with a moist point or 

 brush in order to place it on the mount. Then again, the moist- 

 ure from the mounting adhesive will often discolor the in- 

 sect beyond recognition, thereby rendering the specimen 

 worthless. I have in mind a case where a new species was 

 practically based upon the discoloration caused by the stain 

 resulting from the moisture in the adhesive used in mounting. 

 In handling these small insects. I always use tweezers, picking 

 them up by the wings or, secondly (rarely), by the legs, never, 

 under any circumstances, touching the body with anything 

 other than the point of the mounting pin. As emphasized in 

 (2). Psyche, May 1897, pp. 63-64. 



