b UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 296 



removal. The specimens are transferred to a neutral solution similar 

 to their decalcification solution, and then transferred to a preserving 

 solution. 



Most of the taxonomic characteristics of the burrowing barnacles 

 are associated with chitinous structures. These chitinous structures 

 are seen most clearly by removing the soft parts with KOH; this can 

 best be done by treating the specimen in a solution of about 10-percent 

 KOH in a very small beaker set within a larger beaker holding a 

 shallow layer of boiUng tap water. Such a double boiler will prevent 

 the boihng of the KOH and the violent bubbling action which might 

 force the specimen out of the beaker and onto the hot plate. It is 

 especially useful when deahng with dried specimens, which cannot be 

 effectively treated in any other way. A disadvantage of this treatment 

 is that the soft ventral body processes become obscured as deflated 

 wrinkled areas. Thus, the utility of the ventral body processes for 

 taxonomic purposes is reduced by treatment with KOH. Since most 

 of my descriptions are based on KOH-treated material, I am spe- 

 cifically warning against drawing any conclusions about the presence 

 or absence of these structures, or their detailed anatomy. 



Once the heating in the KOH has progressed to the point where the 

 cirriped is almost transparent and can hardly be seen, it should be 

 removed from the KOH with a large-bore tube or medicine dropper, 

 and transferred to clear, cool, tap water. From the tap water it can be 

 transferred to alcohol for dehydration if desired, or directly to glycerin 

 for clearing. 



Since the specimens are mere "ghosts" of their former selves and 

 are extremely delicate, they should not be handled with pins or for- 

 ceps, but only with pipetted fluids. It is desirable to transfer the 

 specimen with a quantity of glycerin onto a depression shde, where 

 the cover slip will not depress and distort it. After drawings or photo- 

 graphs are made in this nearly original inflated condition, the speci- 

 men can again be transferred to a plain microscope shde. The cover 

 slip can be supported by fragments of cover shps to allow it to settle 

 gently on the specimen, flattening it by stages, to give a clear view of 

 the details of the anatomy without excessive distortion. Finally, the 

 glass fragments can be removed and the cover sHps placed on the 

 specimen itself. 



Dissection of such minute specimens is largely a matter of the 

 separation and reahgnment of rather large parts of the specimen. 

 Routine procedure includes the placing of a pin in the sharp bend of 

 the thorax and with a posterior traction drawing the thorax out 

 through the dorsoposterior wall of the mantle cavity. This frees the 

 thoracic cirri for more detailed study, and also draws them away from 

 the mouthparts which remain in the head region. After examination 



