44 
PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
imagine, will not do for Microlepidoptera. Directions on that bead I must 
leave to others. A box, such as I have described (or rather attempted to 
describe), is actually indispensable to the Entomologist, and should always 
accompany him in his rambles, as insects are thus captured, with the greatest 
ease, on trunks of trees, leaves, flowers, &c. This is the box to be used in 
examining ivy-bloom. 
The next point to be considered is, the setting up an insect, when caught; and 
and I may here speak of the proper pins. Edelsten and Williams, Iron Works, 
Birmingham, make pins for this purpose; and, upon application, will forward a 
pattern paper, with the prices annexed. The following are, I think, the best sizes :— 
for Rhopalocera, Nos. 5 and 17; Sphingidte, 16 and 15 ; Bombyces, 13 and 14; 
Noctuse, 8 ; Pyrales, 15 and 18 ; and Geometrte, 8, 7, 10. 
There are three methods of setting up insects—the flat, the rounded, and the 
sloping. The flat is the method adopted on the Continent, but it does not meet 
with much favour in England. Several distinguished Microlepidopterists, how¬ 
ever, employ it. The rounded is the method generally adopted, I believe, by the 
Metropolitan collectors. I cannot give any directions on this head, as I have never 
tried it. The last, which I term sloping, is the one which, T think, generally 
prevails. For this purpose are required strips of cork, or soft deal, about a foot 
long, with a groove, proportioned to the size of the insect, running down the centre. 
The cork must be smoothly shaved away on each side, according to the amount of 
deflection, which each individual’s fancy may suggest; great care, however, being 
taken that each side exactly corresponds. Insert the pin in the centre of the tho¬ 
rax, with the head bent a little forward. Above all things, avoid letting the pin 
bend to either side. It should be exactly perpendicular, when the insect is set. 
Having placed the moth or butterfly in the groove, so as to permit the wings 
nearly to touch the edge, push them gently up with some pointed instrument to 
the desired length (a good distance is, the apex of the wing being some degree 
higher than the head), and then fix them with a brace of card. Be sure that the 
wings exactly correspond. The antennae and abdomen should be made to pre¬ 
serve the required position by means of pins. This is a point much neglected by 
many collectors. Insects will require, according to their size, the state of the 
atmosphere, &c., more or less time to dry (the females generally take twice as 
long as the males) ; but they should not be removed until quite dry, as other¬ 
wise the wings are apt to start back. The setting-boards should be carefully kept 
free from dirt, dust, &c. 
To relax an insect, all that is required is, to pin it on a piece of cork; place the 
cork in a vessel of water, and cover it up, and in 6, 12, or 24 hours, as the case 
may be, the insect will be as flexible as when caught. 
To remove grease, the best method is, to cut open the uncTer side of the ab¬ 
domen, with a pair of fine-pointed and sharp scissors ; and, having picked out the 
contents, to soak it for six or eight hours, either in camphine or spirit of turpen¬ 
tine. Having dried the insect, as far as possible, with blotting-paper, cover it up 
with magnesia for 24 hours. A camel’s hair brush will remove the magnesia, and 
the insect will be uninjured. Green insects, however, fade, when submitted to this 
process. A large piece of camphor should be placed in each drawer, or box, which 
may contain insects. 
For the purpose of breeding, I use a number of boxes portioned off into divi¬ 
sions. Both boxes and divisions, of course, vary in size. For example’s sake, 
however, suppose one 18 inches square, and 6^ inches in depth, portioned off into 
12 equal divisions. In each division I place some fine mould to the depth of about 
1^ inch, and upon that I put some moss. A lid covered with gauze (like the rim 
of a slate, with the slate knocked out) is made to accurately fit the box, and the 
apparatus is complete. In each division may be placed four or five caterpillars, if 
using the same food. At first they do not seem to like their new abode, but they 
soon become reconciled to it. The food may be renewed once a day, and the moss 
occasionally damped. Wire must be substituted for gauze where the gnawing 
powers are strongly developed, as in the case of “ Cossus ligniperda,” the “ Ceruras,” 
“ Acronycta alni,” &c., and bits of decayed wood should be placed in the division. 
I may here mention an instance of the gnawing powers of the larva of the “ puss 
