392 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1892. 



entitled "Reeherches sur La Bonella (Bonellia viridis)." (Aim. Scien. 

 Nat., torn, x, Paris, 1858, pp. 49-110, Pis. 1-4.) 



Such annelida as Bonellia represents belong to the order Gephyrea, 

 and, according to W. C. Mcintosh, "seem to approach the Echino- 

 derms through the Holothuroidea." They are all marine types, being 

 very widely distributed throughout nature, specially in muddy regions, 

 some being frequently found in univalve shells. 



By such representations as these, and by the judicious use of ex- 

 planatory tables, surely he museum of the future has a fine field to 

 look forward to, for such an art as this is capable of classifying in cases, 

 according to natural taxonomical schemes, whole groups of animals, 

 that heretofore have been studies only from the specimens and from 

 plates and drawings. It also admits of similar casts, duly colored, of 

 the anatomical structure of these little popularly known types, and, as 

 I have already said above, of placing many of them in their cases sur- 

 rounded by reproductions of the objects of their several environments 

 in nature. 



Passing next to the art of taxidermy as applied to crustaceans we 

 are confronted with an entirely different problem than the one of which 

 we have just been speaking. And, as the writer has had no personal 

 experience of the kind, it is with no little pleasure that I find a brief 

 but able article on this subject by my friend Mr. F. A. Lucas, and from 

 it 1 here quote such parts as are in keeping with the present paper, by 

 which I mean that the outstanding difficulties will be indicated while 

 the technique of the art will be omitted. 



Lucas has said: 



Mounting of crabs, lobsters, and other crustaceans is somewhat of a thankless task, 

 requiring an outlay of considerable time and trouble to arrive at results at all satis- 

 factory. At first sight it would seem an easy matter to mount an animal whose form 

 is determined beforehand, but a little trial develops the fact that, like bringing up 

 children, it is much easier in theory than in practice. As crustaceans dry they be- 

 come very brittle, and the small legs and delicate feelers break only too readily. 

 Worse than all, the beautiful colors with which these creatures are adorned while 

 living fade rapidly, and the only way in which they can be renewed is by a dex- 

 trous use of paint. Therefore the great requisites for mounting crustaceans are a 

 careful touch, a good eye for colors, and some knowledge of the proper methods of 

 applying them. The preparation of crustaceans is a little peculiar, inasmuch as, in- 

 stead of the skin being removed from the body, the body is removed piecemeal from 

 the skin. * * * 



Crustaceans maybe mounted either on plain pedestals or on artificial 

 rock work, according to the purpose they are to serve, and in any case they should be 

 kept out of the dust as far as possible, since, owinj; to their fragile nature, they are 

 very difficult to clean.* 



*On the Mounting of Crustaceans. Third Annual Report of the Society of Ameri- 

 can Taxidermists, pp. 74-77, 1882-'83. As it is a fact quite as well known to every 

 one interested in the matter as it is unfortunate, that The Society of American Taxi- 

 dermists no longer has any existence, I will here make a bibliographical note of 

 the two former reports of that society tor the benefit of those who may desire tocon- 



