Within the past month the prices of all entomological pins have advanced 

 slightly. 



Some of the moths fold their wings over their backs, the same as the 

 majority of butterflies, and these may be placed in papers. Almost all the 

 moths, however, and the Hesperidae and smaller butterflies should be pinned 

 with entomological pins through the thorax, from the back. Great care should 

 be taken in pinning insects to see that the point of the pin is inserted in the 

 middle of the thorax and passes through the body at right angles to a line drawn 

 from the head to the tail. The thorax is the second part of the body, between 

 head and abdomen the part bearing the wings and legs. When spread, the 

 wings should be seven-eighths of an inch from point to pin. About one-third of 

 the pin should remain above the body of the insect. Pinning insects is nervous 

 work until you have had some experience and I advise the beginner to practice 

 a great deal in pinning broken and worthless specimens, after which the pins 

 may be removed. The supply houses sell what they call an insect height ad- 

 juster, by which the height of the pin above the insect may be kept uniform 

 and the height of locality labels may be regulated. Uniformity in these matters 

 adds greatly to the appearance of a collection. The adjuster costs fifty cents, 

 and while not a necessity is useful to the inexperienced. 



The outfit above mentioned is an absolute necessity. It is the very 

 scantiest outfit I can mention, and you will understand that many articles can 

 be added with profit. With less, you cannot proceed at all. 



CORK-LINED BOXES. 



Provide yourself with a number of empty cigar boxes, line the bottom of 

 these with insect cork, peat, turf, pressed cork or cork-linoleum. This last 

 may be obtained at any carpet store and is quite cheap, especially if you buy 

 remnants or "scraps." Cut the linoleum to fit the bottom' of the box, first 

 stripping off the cloth which lines the back of the linoleum. Stick it firmly 

 to the bottom by means of glue or flour paste. Pin your moths and the 

 smaller butterflies firmly into these boxes, side by side, but not allowing them 

 to touch each other. Blake's Pinning Forceps costing $1.50 are almost a 

 necessity in pressing the pin firmly into the linoleum. To do this, grasp the 

 pin below the insect with the jaws of the forceps and press it so firmly down 

 that it cannot jar loose. 



SHIPPING INSECTS. 



In shipping specimens you need not spread them. Send butterflies in 

 papers, moths pinned in boxes lined with cork or cork linoleum. These boxes 

 should be packed in a larger box with excelsior, cotton, wool, moss, hay or 

 straw, or some substance that will prevent jarring. Nine-tenths of the material 

 I have received during the past year from those who were my pupils during 

 the free correspondence course, was more or less damaged because of improper 

 packing. Many valuable consignments were crushed and ruined by contact 

 with heavy packages in the parcel post. Too great care cannot be exercised 

 in packing entomological specimens. I nearly always ship through the express 

 companies. It costs but little more and the service is worth the expense. Ex- 

 press companies have "fragile" labels which generally insure proper treatment. 

 If your agent does not keep these apply to me. 



WHAT ARE PERFECT SPECIMENS. 



Absolutely perfect specimens, and none other, are salable. The loss 

 of an antenna, leg, or the slightest damage to the wings or to the scales which 



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