78 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Feb. 



Solution B 1. 



Soft water 1 gal. 



Solution A 1 1 qt. 



Arseniate of potassa 1 oz. 



Another solution with double the amount of water may be made 

 if desired, and called solution B 2. 



To preserve animals with these solutions, they are, if insects or 

 marine invertebrates, ordinarily placed first in solution B 1, but 

 if the weather be cool it would be better in many cases to employ 

 first B 2, and in the case of all marine animals washing first in 

 fresh water is desirable, though not essential. If the specimens 

 rise to the surface they should be kept under by mechanical 

 means. After remaining for several hours, or a day, varying 

 according to its size and the weather, in the B 1 solution it may 

 be transferred to A 3, and then successively to A 2 and A 

 1, and when thus fully preserved it may be transferred to a fresh 

 portion of the last solution, which has been filtered clear and 

 bright, and put up in a cabinet, when no further change will be 

 necessary if the bottle or other vessels be properly secured to pre- 

 vent the escape of the fluid by crystallization around the opening. 

 To prevent this, the stoppers, whether of cork or glass, together 

 with the neck of the bottle or jar, may be covered with a solution 

 of parafime or wax in turpentine or benzole, which should be 

 applied only when the surfaces are quite dry and clean. The 

 length of time that any specimen should remain in each of the 

 solutions is usually indicated by their sinking to the bottom when 

 saturated by it. In general the more gradually this saturation 

 with the saline matter takes place the less the tissues contract or 

 change in appearance. In many cases, however, fewer changes 

 than indicated above will be effectual. I have in some cases 

 succeeded well with but two solutions below A 1. For vertebrates, 

 except fishes, the solution A 2, will usually be found strong 

 enough for permanent preservation, especially when the object is 

 small or dissected. If the entire animal be preserved, when larger 

 than two pounds in weight, it should be injected with the fluids, 

 especially B 1 or B 2, or an incision may be made in one side of 

 the abdomen in vertebrates, or under the carapax of crabs, &c, 

 to admit the fluids more freely. In preserving the animals of 

 laro-e univalve shells an opening should be made through the shell 

 at or near the tip of the spire. Mammals, birds and reptiles, 



