TO ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan., '13 



my previous article, an excess of moisture is the greatest ene- 

 my one has to guard against in handHng these small insects. 

 Another method which is also used, and although better than 

 the one just discussed, has one of the former objections be- 

 sides another, not so important, but still a factor to be con- 

 sidered. I refer to the method of mounting the insect the 

 usual way on a minute nadel which is, in turn, stuck into a 

 piece of cork, pith, or similar substance, and this mounted on 

 a standard pin, thus forming what is termed a secondary 

 mount, the method to which Prof. Baker refers as being un- 

 sightly. The first objection to this method is the necessity 

 of handling the insect in the act of piercing it with the nadel, 

 although this can be done to some satisfaction by placing the 

 specimen on cloth or pith. The other objection is that the na- 

 del in piercing the thorax will often depress or break the 

 chitin and thereby destroy the normal position of an im- 

 portant bristle or hair. 



The method I use also comes under the head of secondary 

 mounting, but overcomes all the objections noted above. This 

 I will try to explain as clearly as possible, and the process, al- 

 though appearing long and complicated, is quite simple, and 

 the satisfaction gained by having thoroughly practical mounts 

 will offset any extra time spent. This method is practically 

 the impaling of the insect upon the point of a nadel, which 

 <5> is supported by a cork, pith or blotting paper 



mount on a standard pin in the manner shown by 

 the accompanying sketch. There are several 

 ways in which this can be done and various kinds 

 SLIP of supporting materials used, but I find that 

 blotting paper is the most economical and looks 

 neat. I generally prepare the slips of blotting- 

 paper in quantity, using the thickest blotter I can 

 find (40 pounds to the ream). A standard sheet 

 will supply enough slips for a season's collecting. 

 These slips are cut 5x9 millimeters in size, on 

 a photo-trimmer with the aid of a couple of 



NADE.\.i\ 



