preserved by immersion in strong alcohol but if this causes 

 contraction and distortion they should first be anaesthetized 

 and then fixed as soon as they are unconscious and relaxed. 

 Large animals should be anaesthetized and then im.mersed 

 in 4-7% formalin for fixing and preserving. All soft or dis- 

 torted specimens should be immediately thrown a\vay. When 

 peculiar difficulties present themselves study these general 

 principles carefully and experiment with all the means at 

 hand until a successful method is attained; then make careful 

 notes of your experiment. 



Special Directions for Summer Collecting 



The Museum wishes to keep on hand for dissection sev- 

 eral dozen of each of the following forms and each member 

 of the Natural History Society should m.ake these the basis 

 of his work during the summer. 



Eartliworms. Where earthworms are abundant speci- 

 mens the size of a lead pencil mxay bel ooked for on the sur- 

 face of the ground at night. Use a light and avoid jarring 

 the ground. Anaesthetize in 30-50 /t alcohol and transfer at 

 once to 95*// alcohol, holding each worm extended a moment 

 till hardened. Select the perfectly straight specimens, roll 

 them up in a strip of cloth and preserve in 95V( alcohol, re- 

 renewed after three days. Make full record of localities, 

 habits, behavior, and methods of capturing and putting up. 



Garden Slugs. Anaesthetize in SOV^ alcohol. A capsule 

 of coagulated slime will form about each specimen. Cut 

 this and roll the animal out and preserve in 95'/< alcohol. 

 Experiment to find a method of killing these animals fully 

 relaxed. Make careful report on the living animals and on 

 methods of putting up. 



Crmufishes. Kill, fix, and preserve in strong alcohol, 

 changed once after three days, or in 39' formalin. Full 

 written report. 



GrassJwp2)ers and CorlroacJies. Take only the largest 

 specimens and kill, fix, and preserve in strong alcohol or 3% 



17 



