227 
SETTING 
^ hen collecting small butterflies in glassbottomed boxes our metliod is to bring them home alive 
and to use several bottles for the killing- As fast as each is stiipified it is emptied into one stock noison 
Wile, and all the insects are left m that bottle for from 24 to 3G hours. The reason of this delay is that 
rthin a very short time after death the muscles of the wings grow too stiff for settino- A damV 
atmosphere such as that of a damp box will loosen the muscles in a few hours, hut the evmnide bottle 
ril do it quite as effectually with no danger from mould and with no moisture to clo- the'fine hairs of 
Ite specimens. The time required for the loosening elfcct of the poison fumes is not constant hiitN-aries 
from 24 to 3G hours. It can easily he gauged by lifting a butterfly from the bottle by one le-- if the 
«ight of the insect straightens the leg the imiscles are loose; if it fail to do so more tiine in the^botlle is 
dwM The loose condition lasts for several hours, but when once it has passed and permanent rio-idity 
b set ill, the {huu|) relaxing hox must be brought into use before setting can be done The setting 
of bed.'* while just a little too stitf is. we are sure, the factor mainly resp\msible for the poor app-ai-l 
ance and d.niiaged condition of set siicciuiens received from many collectors. Twenty butterflies in 
proper condition can be more easily and (luiekly sot than half a dozen that are not qiiite'readv Speei-il 
are in thm coiiueetiou IS amply repaid by the consequent ea.se and pleasure of tliat otherwise tedious 
process, nnd by tlie improved appearance of the set l)utternies. 
PREPARING THE CAPTURES FOR THE COLLECTION. 
Haring caught tlie l)ulterflies, brought them home, and killed them, they require to be set, dried and 
labelled before they can be placed in the storebox or cabinet. 
Tho placing of the butterflies upon the setting boards entails a good deal of the labour and 
ffieully, but at the same time not a little of the pleasure and the education of the collector. Some 
praefice is needed before specimens can be handled without rubbing scales from tlie wing-s or other- 
m damaging them, but an expert touch can always be acquired with ]>erseveranee. Upon the neatness 
and uniformity of the setting and upon the labelling, depends very largely the value of the collection. 
Xo matter how expert or careful a collector may lie, he cannot set his specimens quickly and well if 
the muscles of the wings are not sutliciently relaxed. If killed in the field and at once pinned in tlie damp 
box, tliey will be in good condition for placing on tlie boards the same evening. If brought home alive 
they may be hilled one by one as the setting lu-ogresses ; this however requires considerable judgment 
Mme, as the killing bottles vary in strength and the butterflies in vitality: it is not only annoying 
but deplorable to find a^ specimen showing signs of returning life after it has been placed on the setting 
board. The better plan is to leave the insects in (he killing bottle till next evening as described in a 
prerious paragraph. 
Tile boards used for setting are covered with a cork material, and have a central groove half to 
ibrcequarter inch deep, and wide enough to take the body and legs of the specimen comfortably. The 
entomological pins most in favour and most easily obtainable are tliose of Kirby Beard; we recommend 
If ^ ^ smallest butterflies, No4 for tliose of medium size, and No3 and No2 for 
the largest species. Nol6 is tlie size we use for pinning down the covering to the setting 
boards. 
Tlie pinning of the butterfly is worthy of very careful attention, for upon its accuracy depends 
the success of the setting; if badlv pinned it is quite impossible to set a S]ieeimen to the best advan- 
taje. 
Pinning. Rest the insect between the tips of the finger and tliumb of the left hand, with the wings 
above and the head pointing outwards. Take the pin in the forceps and, holding it a little beyond 
Ihe vertical position, insert the point exactly in the centre of the thorax and press it through in such 
a direction that the point emerges between the second and third pair of legs. Should the point not 
fome through in the spot wanted, withdraw it a little and again press it through, but be careful to use 
Ibe same point of entry. Place the ]>inned insect in the groove of the board at such an angle that 
tbe bead is just a shade higher than the thorax, and at such a height on the pin that the bases of the 
^mgs are just clear of the surface of the setting boaixl. 
There are several methods of setting or spreading the wings. TVe use the bristle method for small 
and have tried the silk winding method, but we find the following plan the most effective, and 
suitable alike for the strongest and largest and the weakest and smallest of the butterflies. 
