S4 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Insects killed by being stabbed with a solution of oxalic acid may be 

 pinned and set immediately, before the rigor sets in, without fear of 

 their subsequently coming to life again. The process of pinning is 

 the most important point in setting, for if the insect be not properly 

 pinnei it cannot possibly be well set. 8ome collectors do not pay 

 sufficient attention to this point, but seem to think that it is quite 

 sufficient to get the pin through the thorax anyhow. It is absolutely 

 essential that the pin should be inserted exactly in the median line 

 above, and should come out exactly in the median line below. Having 

 settled this, the next thing to consider is the exact point in the median 

 line of the thorax for the insertion of the pin. This should be in a line 

 joining the points of insertion of the primaries ; and the point of the 

 pin should come out between the points of insertion of the second and 

 third pair of le.,'S. Many collectors bring it out between the first and 

 second pair, so that when the insect is set the pin is perpendicular. 

 It is much easier, however, to bring the pin out as recommended 

 above, and there is much less risk of rubbing off scales from the 

 wings, especially when the wings are folded over the back of the insect. 

 The height up the pin at which the insect should be set is one over 

 which there is a very great variety of opinion, some collectors liking 

 the wings to touch the paper of the cabinet ; while others set them 

 nearly at the top of the pin, almost in the Continental way. A happy 

 medium should, I think, be taken. Insects do not look so well when 

 perched on the top of the pin ; but undoubtedly they keep much better 

 for being raised some way above the paper. In the first place, should 

 a mite get in, it is much less likely to do damage if it can only reach 

 an insect by climbing up the pin ; and secondly, the free circulation 

 of air under the wings keeps the insect much drier, and much less 

 liable to mildew. With a pin of the right size, exactly half way up is 

 a good rule to follow, and insures all insects set on the same size of 

 pin standing at the same level in the cabinet. 



The next thing to settle is the size of the setting-board. The 

 groove must be large enough to take in body and legs easily without 

 any squeezing, and the width of the board should be about one-fifth 

 more than that of the outstretched wings of the insect. It is a good 

 plan to make a hole with a small glass-headed steel pin in the board 

 in exactly the place and in the same direction that you require the pin 

 of the insect to go. By this precaution all risk of bending the pin 

 and perhaps spoiling the insect is avoided. Great care must be taken 

 to get the body at exactly the right level in the groove. If too low, 

 the wings will spring up after removal from the board ; if too high, 

 they will droop too much. As soon as the insect is properly pinned 

 on the board, the legs should be attended to : the first pair just resting 

 on the edge of the groove, and the second and third pairs carefully 

 pushed down into the groove alongside of the body. This is very 

 important; for if one of these legs is at all above the edge of the 

 groove, it wall interfere with the lay of the secondary wing. 



Next the antennpe should be got into position, and, if necessary, 

 held in place by pins. It is a great advantage to make the antennae 

 lie almost parallel with the costa as it will be when the insect is set 

 Antennae set in this position are much less liable to be broken, and 

 specimens can le placed much closer together in the series. 



