166 
THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
generally adopted: this plan is carried 
out largely by Coleopterists in this 
country, and why should it not be fol- 
lowed by Lepidopterists ? 
This brings the matter to the subject 
of pinning: if we do away with this fact, 
that the Continentals wish our specimens 
set to suit them, the long pins they use 
are unnecessary. Much room, however, 
there is for improvement under this head, 
particularly in the best collections the 
low pinning and setting are most glaring 
defects, and Dr. Staudinger pointed out 
the disadvantages very accurately under 
five heads ; but the fourth must be taken 
exception to, as it is by no means true 
that an insect on a long pin with a thick 
body travels safer than on a short pin ; 
the second is scarcely correct, for we have 
no need to elevate Lepidoptera two inches 
to keep them beyond the reach of mites, 
for we in England never see mites larger 
than half an inch ; besides our pins are 
quite large enough ; the insect should be 
pierced further through, — an inch is quite 
sufficiently clear of the bottom of the 
drawer ; and with this elevation our cabi- 
nets will be quite deep enough. A good 
number of recent Lepidopterists place 
their insects about an inch from the 
bottom of the drawer, and the writer of 
this has half of his Lepidoptera high and 
half low, and at every opportunity dis- 
places the low-set for the higher. 
Next comes the mode of setting the 
wings, and here again we differ from the 
Continentals, for they set horizontally, 
whilst we set all manner of ways, some of 
which cannot be defended. 'Lhe shape 
of the modern-set insects is a slight curve 
downwards, but there are a few who set 
their insects nearly flat, having only the 
natural amount of curvature out of the 
horizontal : this mode is the very paragon 
of setting the wings of Lepidoptera, and 
1 hope it will become generally adopted 
in England. 
Yours, bee., 
JHgmuulli, Jan. 21. «L J. IIkadino. 
DIARIES. 
To the Editor of the • IntelUgencer.’ 
Sir, — The recommendation of Diaries 
with eleven columns is good for the 
learned, but I fear too complex for the 
incipient. I would advise a more simple 
commencement, one that will pay well 
for the first five years of a beginners 
practice in Entomology. The whole ques- 
tion of collecting lies in a nut-shell : 
it is the old game of “ How, when and 
where?” Answer these three questions 
with reference to any one insect, and 
then the right man in the right place, 
at the right time, is sure to realize, — 
viz. let Mr. Samuel Stephens go down to 
West Wickham the first fortnight in May. 
The result is self-evident: Camielita 
is taken; eggs; larvae obtained; our 
cabinets supplied. It is what at school 
we used to call a “ moral (certainty).” 
Now how does this apply to Diaries ? 
Thus, let the beginner collect daily and 
persevering1y,and catch everything, until 
he knows it well; daily let him note 
down in his pocket-book, or diary, where 
he went, the name of the capture, and 
whether by sugar, light, flight or their 
capture as larva or pupa, — initial letters 
will answer, — the condition of the wind, 
weather, whether cold or warm, dry or 
wet. This is but little to add daily, but 
it must be daily. Now for the result ; 
many insects appear true to time, from 
year to year, even on the same day. Now 
here we have at once the when and the 
where, and the following year the harder 
query, the how, may be satisfactorily 
established, — viz. the natural ai)pearauce 
at rest and at flight, the habits, food- 
plant, &c. 
Such a record will occupy but little 
time, little space, is very simple, but ex- 
tremely useful. The commonest species 
will be first caught, examined, done with ; 
next will follow rarer species, perhaps 
novelties. This is the course 1 pursued 
