COLLECTING INSECTS. 
55 
When pinning Hymenoptera and Diptera, it is 
very useful to use circular card discs of about 
| inch in diameter, upon the under side of which 
the locality, date of capture, etc., can -be written. 
After the insect is pinned, the pin is passed through 
the middle of the disc until the insect is within a 
short distance of the card. By this method the 
legs are not only protected and prevented from 
hanging down, but they can be spread out so as 
to be ready for examination. 
OF DISCS. 
'f Staging. — This is a very convenient method of dealing 
with small insects, for which a very fine pin is used. The 
_ insect is pinned in the usual way, and the pin is passed 
J through one end of a narrow strip of card, cork, or 
pith, and a strong full-length pin through the other end 
of the strip. In this way the smaller insects can be 
kept at the same level as the larger ones, and there 
is plenty of room on the longer pin for labels. A very 
suitable material for staging is a fungus called Polyporus, 
which is cut into strips and sold for the purpose by 
dealers. 
« Carding. — Small Coleoptera, Hemiptera, and some 
other insects are most easily mounted by being gummed 
- = on card. The card should only be sufficiently large to 
carry the specimen safely, with just room to take hold 
of the pin without risk of touching the insect. But 
a better way is to place the insect across a very narrow 
strip of card. This, although not quite so safe, has the 
advantage of allowing some of the under side of the 
insect to be seen. The specimen should always be on 
the left hand of the pin when the head is turned from 
the operator. 
