position shown in fig. 1 is now more usual. One lepidopterist of this Museum advocates the unconven- tional but logical practice of mounting the wings on one side of the body in a reverse position, with the hind wing overlapping the forewing, thus revealing all its characters perfectly. The wings of the right side are spread exactly as where those of the left. When both pairs are in position, cover the outer portion of each with a slip of paper cut from one of the cover strips and secured with a few flass-headed pins as shown in fig. 11. The pins ought not to puncture the wings, but should be placed close outside them. The narrow band of wing next to the guide strip where the spreading needles are in- serted may safely be left uncovered. When the wings are firmly papered, remove the restraining pin, if any, and in most cases the spreading needles also. There are, however, some species so resistant to spreading that the wings will slip backward if the needles are removed before the specimen has dried. If the abdomen of the insect tends to droop, prop it up with a pair of pins, crossed beneath it and driven into the sides of the groove. If it is cocked up, depress it with a similar pair of pins, crossed on top like those in fig. 11. Antennae too short to reach to the guide strips may also be arranged by carefully placed pins. [Image: Fig. 11. Butterfly fully spread, half papered. Note crossed pins depressing abdomen.] The second specimen is placed as close below the first as its size, when spread, will allow, and the third below the second. In the beginning, while you are working slowly, you had better paper each specimen individually. But, as your efficiency increases, you will find that you can spread half a board full, and paper them all with a single pair of cover strips, before the wings of the first have dried enough to start curling at the tips. One board will usually hold four, six, or eight specimens, according to their size and your skill in estimating just how much space they will occupy when fully extended. When filled, the spreading board should be stored in a warm airy place while the specimens dry. If the specimens have been previously dried,and relaxed,this will require from two days to a week, depending upon temperature, humidity, and the size of the insects. If fresh killed specimens are being mounted, they will take about three weeks, skippers and large moths not less than four weeks. In extremely damp climates forced drying in a slow oven may sometimes be necessary. It is never advisable to remove specimens from the board on a rainy day. In taking specimens off the board, remove first all the guide and cover strips, and any supporting pins you may have used. Then lift the insects by pulling their pins straight up. If, despite precautions, legs, anten- nae, or even wings should be broken off, replace them at once with a little white shellac or transparent plastic cement well thinned with acetone. Torn wings can be repaired almost invisibly by drawing a small drop of such cement along each rent with the point of a needle, being sure to touch both edges with the adhesive. Detached fragments, such as antennae, too delicate to handle with forceps can be picked up easily by touching them with a small wet camel's hair brush. Should the broken part be too minute to replace neatly, glue it to a small slip of paper, and impale this on the pin beneath the specimen. You never know when you may need that very piece in making an identification. A data label, giving the date and place of capture, should accompany each specimen or lot of specimens from the day it is taken. Such labels are shown in the relaxing box, fig. 9, and pinned to the board beside the butterfly in fig. 11. A copy of this information should be written with a fine pen and india ink on the smallest practical slip of stiff paper and fixed upon the pin that holds the insect. The position of this label is shown in fig. 1. The name of the collector, also a part of the com- plete data record, may be included in the locality label or lettered on a second label, pinned beneath the first. When spreading a considerable series of one species, try mounting some of the specimens up-side- down, so as to show the under surface of the wings. If you wish to preserve your collection in Riker mounts, pressed between a sheet of cotton and a pane of glass, mount the insect up-side-down upon a flat board as shown in fig. 12. The fine pin used to hold the specimen to the board while the spreading is in progress should be removed as soon as the wings have been papered. The legs should be folded tight against the body and, if necessary, held there by