22 THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



set out his specimens without removing a greater or lesser 

 number of the scales. 



First, as to the flat and high setting as practised by almost 

 every lepidopterist abroad and by some in our own country. 

 Boards of the pattern, shown in the illustration, will be required ; 

 also some tracing cloth, and a pair of entomological forceps, 



bead-headed pins, etc. In 

 these boards, it will be noticed, 

 the sides tilt outwards ; this is 

 to allow for drooping of the 

 wings, which generally occurs 

 Fig. 15. after insects are removed from 



Board for Flat-setting. the "sets." In this case the 



wings would settle dead flat, 

 which is considered to be the acme of perfection in this style of 

 setting. Carlsbad or other foreign pins would be used for this 

 kind of work. They are of a uniform length, about one inch 

 and a half, but vary in thickness, and are usually sold by the 

 100 or 1000. 



Manipulation of the specimen on these boards is as follows. 

 Having carefully pinned it, leaving the greater length of pin 

 below the insect, guide the pin carefully through the narrow 

 opening {a Fig. 15) and the cork (Fig. 16) below to a suitable 

 depth, so that the body of the insect rests in the groove and 

 the wings lie easily on the board. Then take two strips of 

 tracing cloth, glazed side downwards, and pin them on at the 

 end of each side of the setting-board (Fig. 17). The strip should 

 be just wide enough to cover all but the basal part of the wings. 

 Now pass the strips over the wings, press one side lightly with 

 the fingers of the left hand while the wings are moved into 

 position with the setting needle (a fine needle with eye end 

 fixed into the stick of a small penholder will do for this) from 

 the uncovered base, a pin being inserted below the fore wing 

 while the hind wing is brought into position, but when this has 



