ON MOUNTING SPECIMENS. 



31 



that, as with the locust, the body consists of three 

 main parts — the head, the thorax, and the abdomen. 



3. In pinning insects most specimens should be 

 pinned through the middle of the thorax. Read the 

 section on pinning insects on page 297. 



4. Pin four or five of the larger specimens in this 

 way, leaving about one fourth of the length of the 

 pin above the back of the insect. If insect pins 

 be used, avoid using the smaller sizes, as they are 

 easily bent. Insects that are too small to be pinned 

 with No. 3 Klager pins should be mounted on cards 

 as described later. . 



5. Ascertain if you have any beetles in your col- 

 lection. Beetles have a pair of wing-covers in the 

 place of the front wings. 

 These wing - covers are 

 thick and horny, and 

 meet in a straight line 

 down the back of the in- 

 sect, forming a hard case, 

 beneath which the hind 

 wings are folded. Fig. 

 9 represents a beetle. 



6. Separate the beetles 

 in your collection from 

 the other specimens. 



7. In pinning beetles ^ fig. 9.-A beetle. 

 the pin should be put 



through the right wing-cover at a point about one 

 fourth the length of the wing-cover from its base 

 (see Fig. 10). 



8. Pin all the beetles in your collection that are 

 la^ge enough to be pinned. 



