The Capture, Preparation, and Preservation of Specimens 



Relaxing Specimens. — When butterflies or moths have been 

 put up in papers or mounted on pins without having their wings 

 expanded and set it becomes necessary, before setting them, to 

 relax them. This may be ac- 

 complished in several ways. 

 If the specimens have been 

 pinned it is best to place them 

 on pieces of sheet-cork on a 

 tray of sand which has been 

 thoroughly moistened and 

 treated with a good dose of 

 carbolic acid. Over all a bell- 

 glass is put. A tight tin box 

 will serve the same purpose, 

 but a broad sheet of bibulous 



Fig. 58. — Butterfly pinned on board, showing 

 method of holding up body and pinning down 

 antennae. 



paper should always be put 

 over the box, under the lid, before closing it, and in such a way as to 

 leave the edges of the paper projecting around the edges of the lid. 

 This is done to absorfrthe moisture which might settle by condensa- 

 tion upon the lid and drop upon the specimens. In a bell-glass the 



Fig. 59. — Drying-box: a, setting-board partly pulled 

 out; b, T-shaped strip working in groove on setting- 

 board ; c, front door, sliding down by tongue, d, work- 

 ing in a groove at side in front. 



moisture generally trickles down the sides. Earthenware crocks 

 with closely fitting lids are even better than tin boxes, but they 

 must have paper put over them, before closing, in the same way 

 as is done when tin boxes are used. When specimens have been 



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