1842.] 



A few Instructions for Insect Collectors. 



411 



the legs well clear of the bottom of the box, and allow a good hold in 

 the lining. Those species in which the upper part of the body is expos- 

 ed, must be opened below, either by a longitudinal cut, or removing a 

 triangular piece ; if the body be soft, the bristle or slip of bamboo put in 

 it is to be wrapped with cotton to its size and shape, and the skin care- 

 fully placed over it ; this is particularly necessary with the Orthoptera 

 and Neuroptera, which, otherwise, lose very much of their natural ap- 

 pearance. The Coleoptera alone are pinned through the elytrum, all 

 others through the middle of the thorax, and there are many of every 

 order too minute to admit of being stuck either way. Dr. Pearson uses 

 a strip of quill, one end being inserted between the rings of the abdo- 

 men, and through the other a pin is run ; but as the quill is 

 liable to curl and twist, I prefer using a ^ :: \0 bristle or fine pin, 

 which is placed in a piece of cork, and / by having the lat- 

 ter one inch long and quarter inch square, three or four small insects 

 may be put side by side on one pin ; a bottle cork will 

 make several slips. The legs, wings, l ^"^ ^ and antennae, are 

 to be placed in their natural position j[ I I 1 by pinning the in- 

 sect to a loose piece of sola, brought conveniently near the body 

 of the insect; the feet are fastened down by pins bent to a bayonet 

 shape, or by slips of card pinned over them, which latter are also 

 used to retain in a proper manner the wings of butterflies, &c. For 

 Lepidoptera, the sola to which they are temporarily attached, should 

 have a long hollow to receive the body, that the wings may lie 

 quite flat ; the upper pair in butterflies and some moths should be carri- 

 ed well forward to expose the whole of the lower ones, and may 



pins stuck through 

 whose under wings 

 are upper in repose, I 

 the former be drawn 

 opened so much only 



be held so by fine 

 them. In those moths 

 wholly hidden by the 

 would recommend that 

 forwards, and the latter 



as to shew the body, as in the following sketch ; this 

 method exhibits the natural form of the insect, as 

 well as the under-wings, which are often very beau- 

 tiful. 



When the insect is pinned, and its limbs properly arranged, it is to be 

 placed in the drying box till sufficiently rigid to allow of removal 



