16 AMERICAN MUSEUM GUIDE LEAFLETS 



moths have natural rest positions which are not only interesting but 

 economical of space. It is well therefore to expand the wings of the 

 left side so that the markings on both the front and hind wings show, 

 but to leave the right wings in the natural rest position. The reason 

 for expanding the left side rather than the right and for putting the 

 triangles, etc. (see above) on the left side is that most people are right- 

 handed. This arrangement makes it easy to use the pinning forceps 

 with the right hand. Pinning forceps are strong forceps with broad 

 roughened ends and are useful in pushing the pins into the cork of the 

 storage boxes (see page 19). For the same reason when the wings of 

 grasshoppers, wasps, etc., are spread it should always be the left wing. 



The most common form of spreading board is illustrated in 

 Fig. 8. The sides are made of soft wood. In the bottom of the central 

 channel is a piece of soft cork. After pinning the insect, push 

 the pin into this central cork until the back of the insect is nearly 

 flush with the board. Then draw the wings to the desired position 

 by means of forceps or a fine needle caught in the strong front margin 

 of the wings. Never use the fingers on moths and butterflies 

 as they will rub off the scales which cover the wings and give color 

 to them. The wings may be held in position by means of fine pins 

 or bits of heavy glass or strips of tracing cloth, held in place by pins 

 placed outside of the wings. A combination of the last two methods, 

 glass on paper, is best. It is well to have a number of boards with 

 grooves of different widths for use with different sized insects. 



Figure 9 shows a setting board devised by Mr. Chas. E. Sleight, 

 of Ramsey, N. J. — and perhaps by others — for spreading caddice 

 flies and other insects when it is desired to have the legs spread as 

 well. The holes running down the center are just large enough to 

 accommodate that part of the pin w^hich is above the insect. The 

 wings are spread as before except that now the under side is visible 

 to the worker and the legs are accessible. 



Flies (insects which have just one pair of wings), beetles (insects 

 which have hard front wings) and bugs (insects which have the front 

 part of the front wings leathery) are rarely spread although 

 they may be. The wings on at least one side of wasps should not 

 be spread, as the way they fold them is of taxonomic value. 



Should insects get dry and stiff before they are spread they must 

 be relaxed. This is done by putting them in a covered jar or tin box 

 containing water or moist blotting paper. A few drops of carboUc 



