666 MANUAL OF NATUEAL HISTORY. 



until dry, by means of braces of card or slips of 

 glass ; the latter are best when they can be conve- 

 niently used, as their weight is sufficient to retain 

 the wings in any position ; and the smoothness of 

 the surface and transparency of the material, afford 

 advantages which are not possessed by any other, 

 so that the operator is enabled to see whether the 

 wings are properly placed, and he can alter and ad- 

 just them without removing the slips. Moths are 

 best set by pinning them to cork, grooved so as to 

 receive their bodies. Large-bodied species must be 

 opened and filled with cotton, as described for the 

 Orthoptera. 



Hemiptera should generally be set out at once 

 and dried, the pin being thrust through the thorax, 

 and the wings closed. Some may be preserved in 

 spirits, others placed on card. 



Homoptera. — Some of these may be preserved in 

 spirits, but they are better when put out at once, a 

 pin being run through the thorax, and the wings kept 

 closed. Some are better kept in small glass tubes. 



Strepsiptera may be put on card or preserved in 

 small tubes. 



Diptera should be preserved dry, the pin piercing 

 the thorax, and the wings being expanded. Small 

 species must be put upon card. 



Aphaniptera should be preserved in small glass 

 tubes, or they may be put upon card. 



Caterpillars are best preserved in spirits ; but as 

 the colours of the smooth-bodied ones are very eva- 

 nescent, they should be noted at the time, or, as 

 previously mentioned, drawings should be made. 



