22 
MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 
A much simpler way, although to my thinking not so safe to use 
with valuable specimens, is to have a plain wooden box filled with 
wet sawdust in which deep grooves are made and the butterflies 
placed body down in their papers in these grooves. One needs to be 
careful not to have the sawdust too wet in this case as the insects are 
liable to absorb too much water, which may injure their appearance. 
After the insects have remained in the relaxing-box until pliable 
(the following method may also be used for fresh specimens), they 
should be spread underside uppermost on smooth pine blocks; these 
may be from four to six inches square and covered with smooth paper 
Relaxing-Box. 
pasted to the face. Pin the insect to be spread through the thorax 
(stout insect pins will be found best for this purpose) on the block 
wrong side up ; spread the wings with fine needles ; lay strips of glass 
on them ; secure the legs and antennae in place with pins ; and allow 
the specimen to dry, after which it will be found very flat and in the 
right condition for mounting. Insects may be kept in this state in a 
tight box until the collector is ready to mount them in the tablets. 
A good many insects, especially butterflies, show a marked differ¬ 
ence between the upper and under side of the wings. When it is 
desired to show the under side, the insect should be spread on the 
