ZOOLOGY^ 



237 



be placed before its wings are become stiff and dry, on a 

 piece of cork that has a smooth surface, covered with white 

 paper, the body of the fly should not be permitted to touch 

 the paper, when stuck upon it, but to stand up some little 

 distance from it, so that it may appear as if resting on its 

 legs ; it being only the edges of the wings, and the point of 

 the tail, that should come in contact with the paper, the 

 wings are to be expanded as at C, plate 3, this is best 

 done with a fine needle, or sharp-pointed instrument, which 

 may be fixed in a handle. 



The upper edges of the superior wings should be placed in 

 a line with the head of the Insect, in which situation they are 

 to be retained by means of small braces made of card-paper, 

 cut into the shape as represented at fig. C, plate 3, these 

 must be proportioned to the size of the wings, and fitted to 

 their shape, by being more or less curved : by this plan, the 

 spots and markings on the wings are rendered conspicuous, 

 and the Insect appears to much greater advantage : hov/ever 

 to succeed well in this operation, requires a considerable 

 degree of practice and ingenuity : after remaining a few 

 days, or till the Insect has become quite stiiT, the braces 

 may be removed, and the Insect placed in the store box, 

 •which should be so constructed, as to eifectiially exclude 

 those little insects which are apt to infest and destroy col- 

 lections of this kind ; the shape of the store-box is immaterial, 

 it should be lined with thio cork, covered with paper, and the 

 edges or cover made to shut quite close, if covered with 

 glass, some strips of paper must be pasted over the edges. 



Most of the Insects contained in the order Neuroptera, 

 are aquatic in their immature state, and when arrived at the 



