24 NATURALISTS’ ASSISTANT. 
piece of card with eum, place the insects promiscuously 
upon it and then when dry cut to suit the specimen. Thin 
pieces of mica are also used in a similar manner. 
To place the insects in the cabinet, what are known as pin- 
ning forceps are frequently used. ‘These are 
forceps made after the usual manner, except 
that the extremities are bent as shown in fig. 
7, and the corrugations of the points are so 
arranged as to hold the pin firmly. The pin 
is grasped by them about a quarter of an 
inch from the extremity and forced into the 
bottom of the case with a gentle pressure. 
By this method all danger of bending the 
pins is averted, a result which frequently fol- 
lows an attempt to set them with the fingers. 
They may also be set with much greater reg- 
ularity with the forceps than without. 
SPREADING BUTTERFLIES. 
Butterflies and moths should always have 
the wings extended and it is frequently de- 
sirable to mount other insects in the same 
manner. ‘This is accomplished by means of 
a “setting board.” <A strip of pine or other 
Fic. 7. 
soft wood has a groove ploughed through the middle to 
the depth of from three-quarters of an inch to an inch, 
The bottom of the groove is generally lined with cork to 
hold the point of the pin. It is frequently desirable to have 
