28 
HINTS ON COLLECTING 
the specimen becomes insensible, turn it out of the bottle 
and prick the under surface of the thorax with a fine pen 
dipped into oxalic acid. This instantly kills the largest 
butterfly, and it remains in a perfectly relaxed condition for 
setting. When killed direct in the cyanide bottle, the 
specimens become stiff shortly afterwards, therefore they must 
either be transferred to the relaxing tin or left in the cyanide 
for twenty-four hours, after which time they again become 
relaxed and are easy to set. 
Setting Boards. Setting boards of different sizes must be 
obtained, also entomological pins. The latter are made of 
different material in three forms: white, gilt and black. 
Although the black are in general use, they are usually 
unsatisfactory ; often the metal is soft and the points are 
very inferior. Most collectors 
greatly prefer either the sharper- 
pointed gilt or white pins for 
butterflies, which are not so 
liable to verdigris as are moths. 
Pins of the correct sizes to suit 
the comparative sizes of the 
specimens should be carefully 
selected. 
Setting Butterflies. The 
greatest care is needed to set a butterfly satisfactorily, and 
to achieve success it requires not only skill and patience, 
but much practice. The first and most important thing is 
to pin a specimen correctly. This must be done with great 
care. Pass the pin through the centre of the thorax, the 
point passing out between the legs and well beyond the thorax 
for a distance of three-eighths of an inch. When pinned in 
this manner and the insect is ready to be placed in the 
cabinet after it has been set, the wings and body are clear 
of the surface of the cabinet drawer. 
Having properly pinned the specimen, carefully pin it on 
the setting board with its body well down in the groove so 
that the wings rest flush on the surface of the board ; the 
pin must be perfectly upright. When the wings are drawn 
up in position by means of a fine needle, they may be secured 
by a spanner* (a stiff bristle, one end of which is inserted 
* See figure above. 
Setting-bristle. 
Spanner for holding wings in 
position. 
