Method of and Means for Mounting and Preserving Insects of the Order of Lepidoptera.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 28th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 28th Oct., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Method of and Means for Mounting and Preserving Insects of the
Order of Lepidoptera.
I, ZORZIS GEORGIOS MICHALINOS, of 18-19, Great St. Helens, in the City of
London, Shipowner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to a method of mounting insects of the order of lepi-
doptera whereby they may be preserved for an indefinite period for the purpose
of serving either as entomological specimens, book illustrations, or otherwise, or
for the production of panels or pictures or other ornamental effects, the inven-
tion consisting in mounting the insect minus the body portion by means of a
specially prepared agglutinant, upon cardboard, paper, wood, terra-cotta, silk,
gauze, or other suitable material and then reproducing the body portion and
antennae in water colour or otherwise so that the appearance presented is that
of a real insect in all its natural beauty, the fact that the wings are mounted not
being manifest either to the eye or to the touch owing to their extreme tenuity.
The invention affords scope for the display of artistic skill inasmuch as the
different species of lepidoptera may be arranged on the support in a variety of
ways and the effect enhanced by the hand painted surroundings.
In order that the process may be carried into effect it is absolutely necessary
to employ an agglutinant which may be readily applied, which will dry rapidly,
which will in no way damage the wings of the insect, and which will cause them
to adhere to the support with the utmost tenacity. This liquid substance is
composed of the following ingredients in about the proportions specified, viz. :-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Method of and Means for Mounting and Preserving Insects of the
Order of Lepidoptera.
I, ZORZIS GEORGIOS MICHALINOS, of 18-19, Great St. Helens, in the City of
London, Shipowner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to a method of mounting insects of the order of lepi-
doptera whereby they may be preserved for an indefinite period for the purpose
of serving either as entomological specimens, book illustrations, or otherwise, or
for the production of panels or pictures or other ornamental effects, the inven-
tion consisting in mounting the insect minus the body portion by means of a
specially prepared agglutinant, upon cardboard, paper, wood, terra-cotta, silk,
gauze, or other suitable material and then reproducing the body portion and
antennae in water colour or otherwise so that the appearance presented is that
of a real insect in all its natural beauty, the fact that the wings are mounted not
being manifest either to the eye or to the touch owing to their extreme tenuity.
The invention affords scope for the display of artistic skill inasmuch as the
different species of lepidoptera may be arranged on the support in a variety of
ways and the effect enhanced by the hand painted surroundings.
In order that the process may be carried into effect it is absolutely necessary
to employ an agglutinant which may be readily applied, which will dry rapidly,
which will in no way damage the wings of the insect, and which will cause them
to adhere to the support with the utmost tenacity. This liquid substance is
composed of the following ingredients in about the proportions specified, viz. :-
Water
Drachms.
8
Grains.
30
Alcohol at 95°
Rosemary
0
40
0
35
Camphor
0
10
Glycerine
0
5
Borate of Zinc
0
5
Gum Arabic
Size
0
0
140
5
While the above materials and the proportions are such as I have found to
afford satisfactory results, I desire to state that the latter are capable of varia-
tion and that for the former, equivalent substances may be substituted. Thus
the gum arabic may be replaced by other gums or by resins, other solvents may
be used, honey may be used in lieu of glycerine, and the borate of zinc may be
replaced by other siccatives used in the arts.
The method of procedure is as follows:-The butterfly (or butterflies) is first
temporarily placed upon the support in the position which it is to occupy so as
to enable an outline thereof to be sketched upon said, support, after which the
[Price 81

page_text: butterfly is removed and the agglutinant is then applied to the surface at the
desired points as lightly and sparingly (in the case of paper) as possible and
in just sufficient quantity to cause the wings of the butterfly, when placed thereon,
to adhere over their entire surface without spreading beyond their margins,
after which a thickness of paper is laid upon the wings and pressure is then
applied, first by means of the palm of the hand and then by rubbing forcibly
but gently with the thumb-nail, whereby the wings of the butterfly are caused
to firmly adhere to the support in a perfectly undamaged condition.
Dated this 12th day of Aust 1899
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.
Method of and Means for Mounting and Preserving Insects of the
Order of Lepidoptera,
I, ZORZIS GEORGIOS MICHALINOS, of 18-19, Great St. Helens, in the City of
London, Shipowner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement: -
My invention relates to a method of mounting insects of the order of lepi-
doptera whereby they may be preserved for an indefinite period for the purpose
of serving either as entomological specimens, book illustrations, or otherwise, or
for the production of panels or pictures or other ornamental effects, the inven-
tion consisting in mounting the insect, minus the body portion, by means of a
specially-prepared agglutinant, upon cardboard, paper, wood, glass, terra-cotta,
leather, silk, satin, gauze, or other suitable material and then reproducing the
body portion and antennae in water colour or otherwise so that the appearance
presented is that of the entire insect in all its natural beauty, the fact that the
wings (or to speak more accurately the scales or mealy portion thereof inasmuch
as the membraneous portion of the wings is removed) are mounted, not being
manifest either to the eye or to the touch owing to their extreme tenuity.
The invention affords scope for the display of artistic skill inasmuch as the
different species of lepidoptera may be arranged on the support in a variety of
ways and the effect enhanced by hand-painted surroundings.
In order that the process may be carried into effect it is absolutely necessary
to employ an agglutinant which may be readily applied, which will dry rapidly,
which will in no way damage the wings of the insect, and which will cause the
scales or mealy portions to adhere to the support with the utmost tenacity.
This liquid substance is composed of the following ingredients in about the pro-
portions specified, viz. ;-
Water
Drachms.
४
Minims.
Grains.
30
0
Alcohol at 95°
40
Rosemary
-
35
0
Glycerine
5
0
Camphor
0
0
10
Borate of Zinc
()
0
5
Gum Arabic
0
0
140
Size
0
5
In preparing this liquid a separate mixture of the alcohol, rosemary, cam-
nhar glycerine and boroto of sine in finat made and the
L

page_text: been dissolved in the water the two solutions are intimately mixed by agitating
them in a suitable glass vessel and the mixture is then allowed to settle for which
purpose about two or three days will suffice.
The relative proportions of the above mentioned materials are those I have
found to answer in practice in order to produce an agglutinant having the
qualities necessary for the purpose of my invention, but the proportions may
be varied and equivalent materials may be used in place of certain of those
named. Thus gum arabic may be replaced by senegal or tragacanth gums,
honey may be used in lieu of glycerine, the borate of zinc may be replaced by
other siccatives used in the arts, while other solvents may be used.
The method of procedure is as follows:-The insect is first temporarily placed
upon the support in the position which it is to occupy so as to enable an out-
line thereof to be sketched upon said support, after which the insect is removed
and the agglutinant is applied to the surface of the support within the outline
sketched on it as lightly and as sparingly as possible and in just sufficient
quantity to cause the wings of the insect when applied to the support to adhere
thereto without the agglutinant spreading beyond their margins. A thickness
of paper is then laid upon the wings and pressure is brought to bear on the
wings first by means of the palm of the hand and then by rubbing the paper
forcibly but gently with the thumb-nail. The membraneous portion of the
wings is then removed, which can be readily done either by inserting a pen-
knife or other pointed instrument thereunder and raising it or even by bending
the support if the latter is flexible as the agglutinant does not cause the mem-
braneous portion of the wings to adhere, leaving the scale or mealy portion of
the wings as a closely adhering coating of the support. If it be desired to
mount both sides of the wing, the wing, after one side has been applied to the
support, is removed by raising the membraneous portion as above mentioned,
reversing the wing, and re-applying it to a different part of the support which
has previously coated with the agglutinant as above mentioned. In this way
both the upper and under portions of the wing can be mounted.
If the insects are mounted on a support which is absorbent (i.e. paper, card-
board, soft wood, etc., ordinarily used for painting) the above procedure would
suffice. But if the support be non-absorbent, or only slightly absorbent, (such
as hard wood, earthenware, etc.,) it would have two coats of the agglutinant,
the second being applied after the first has become dry, and the wings then
caused to adhere. If gauze and such like be the material on which the insect
is mounted, after the outline of the insect has been traced, that portion to
which the insect is to be applied should have its orifices completely filled with
the agglutinant which should be allowed to dry, the agglutinant just prior to
applying the insect being slightly moistened to cause the wings to adhere.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is;-
1. The method of mounting upon cardboard or other suitable material, the
scaly or mealy covering of the wings of insects of the order of lepidoptera,
which consists in causing said scaly or mealy portion to adhere to the support
by an agglutinant of the kind specified, substantially as described.
2. A liquid agglutinant for mounting the wings of insects on a support, pre-
pared from the materials and in substantially the manner specified.
Dated this 28th day of Sontember 1900.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.