24 
E. W. BOWYEE-METHODS OE MOTH-COLLECTING. 
of British. Lepidoptera,’ edited by Stainton, illustrated by magni¬ 
ficent plates, and a third volume will appear at the end of this year; 
but it must be many years before the subject will be completed. 
As to apparatus, first of all is, of course, the net. Some form 
of folding-net is convenient, both for travelling and to avoid 
obtrusive observation when one has to pass through a town. Then 
setting-boards of various sizes; and a killing-bottle, as to the 
contents of which authorities differ. Some use bruised laurel 
leaves, which have the advantage of not stiffening insects and the 
disadvantage of bleaching those which are green. A most effective 
and convenient substance is a solution of cyanide of potassium 
poured into a bottle and solidified by plaster of Paris. These 
killing-bottles are easily and cheaply filled for oneself, with very 
little practice. Insects killed in this way become stiff: a good 
mode of relaxing, for a smoker, is to stupefy them by the cyanide, 
and then pierce the body with a needle which has been put up the 
stem of a well-used pipe. Anyhow a relaxing-box, of zinc, lined 
with cork, and moistened from time to time with hot water, is a 
sine qua non . It may be taken as an axiom that no insect which 
is stiff can be set properly, i.e. without piercing the wings or 
removing the scales. Skilful setting can only be acquired by 
practice : it is well to remember that the wings of a moth should 
be moved on the setting-board by applying a fine pin beneath , not 
above them. A perfect and perfectly-set insect should bear the 
test of being looked at with a light behind it; punctures or want 
of scales can be then at once seen. It is better to use tracing- 
paper to cover the wings, than the commonly used triangular 
pieces of cardboard, which are apt to leave dents. The wings 
should be nearly covered with the paper; one can see through it 
whether they are set symmetrically or not. One thing I would 
add—avoid mixed pins. Beginners often buy from dealers a box of 
these mixed pins, and use the largest size for the smallest insects, 
and vice versa. Pins should be kept apart by sizes; and an 
experienced collector knows these sizes by numbers as a sportsman 
knows his shot, and when he has caught a moth, knows at once 
what sized pin to use. Black pins are very generally in use now ; 
they are a necessity for collectors of small insects. On the 
ordinary silvered, or even on gilt pins, with many species verdigris 
will form near the body of the moth, and gradually, by its pressure, 
distort the wings. 
A collector must be provided with a good supply of chip-boxes, 
or, better still, with glass-topped boxes, and he should always 
have a few of these in his pocket for chance captures. 
And now, being provided with apparatus, as to some of the chief 
methods of obtaining moths. Pirst of all I would place the use of 
the eye. "Wooden palings and tree trunks will, if searched, yield 
a large number of species which rest on them in the daytime. I 
have got so into the habit, that I cannot pass a tree or paling 
without running my eye over it. It is wonderful how training 
brings skill with it: you may often tell a non-collecting friend that 
