G. GENERAL NATURAL HISTORY AND ZOOLOGY. 313 



ing as nearly as possible that of fresh muscular fibre. It is 

 better to use but a small quantity of the liquid at one time 

 than to put on several layers. When this is accomplished 

 the entire preparation is immersed from five to ten minutes 

 in a solution of alum, saturated in the cold. It is then rapid- 

 ly washed in pure water, and finally placed permanently in 

 alcohol. 



The theory of the process is very simple, according to 

 Plateau. By dissolving the carmine in ammonia, an ammo- 

 niacal solution, or carminic acid, is obtained; and after the 

 painting of the muscle, the addition of alum has the effect 

 of producing a gelatinous, uncolored precipitate of hydrate 

 of ammonia, which is carried away by the excess of the 

 liquid. Consequently, an insoluble carmine lac is formed, 

 which, penetrating a certain depth into the flesh, forms a 

 very solid dye. Specimens in the University of Ghent, pre- 

 pared as long ago as 1872, still retain all their original beau- 

 ty. It is not necessary that this process be practiced on 

 fresh muscle. Any preparation, however old, can be restored 

 in this way to the appearance of nature. It is of course op- 

 tional with the experimenter to apply the color only to such 

 particular muscles, in an anatomical preparation, as it is de- 

 sired to trace out for demonstration. Bull. Hoy. Acad. Sci. t 

 Belgium, 1874, 476. 



FAUNA OF THE MAMMOTH CAVE. 



Interesting additions to our knowledge of the fauna of the 

 Mammoth Cave have recently been made by Mr. F. W. Putnam, 

 of Salem, who, as a special assistant on the Kentucky State 

 Geological Survey, of which Professor N. S. Shaler is the di- 

 rector, had great facilities extended by the proprietors of the 

 cave, and he made a most thorough examination of its fauna, 

 especially in relation to the aquatic animals. Mr. Putnam 

 passed ten days in the cave, and by various contrivances suc- 

 ceeded in obtaining large collections. He was particularly 

 fortunate in catching five specimens of a fish of which only 

 one small individual had heretofore been known, and that 

 was obtained several years ago from a well in Lebanon, Ten- 

 nessee. This fish,which Mr. Putnam had previously described 

 from the Lebanon specimen under the name of Chologaster 

 agassizii, is very different in its habits from the blind fishes 



O 



