NATURAL HISTORY. 239 



2. Two copper kettles in one of the panniers^ to contain the alcohol 

 for such specimens as require this mode ol'preserv^ation, viz : reptiles, 

 fishes, small quadrupeds, most insects, and all soft invertebrates. The 

 alcohol, if over 80 per cent., should have one-fourth of water added. 



3. An iron wrench to loosen the screw-caps of the copper kettles, 

 when too tight to be managed by hand. 



4. Tavo India rubber bags, one for each kettle. These arc intended, 

 to be inflated inside of the kettles, and by displacing the alcohol cause 

 it to rise to the edge of the brass cap, and thus fill the kettle. Unless 

 this is done, and any unoccupied space thus filled up, the specimens 

 will be washed against the sides of the vessel, and much injured. 



5. Small bags made of lino, mosquito netting or cotton, of different 

 sizes, and open at one end. These are intended, in the first place, to 

 separate the specimens of different localities from each other ; and, in 

 the second place, to secure them from mutual friction or other injury. 

 The number or name corresponding to the locality is to be marked on 

 the outside with red chalk, or written with ink on a slip of parchment, 

 and dropped inside. The specimens are then to be placed in the bag, 

 a string tied round the open end, and the bag thrown into alcohol. 

 The ink of the parchment must be dry before the slip is moistened in 

 any way. 



N. B. Fishes and reptiles over five or six inches in length should 

 have a small incision made in the abdomen, to facilitate the introduction 

 of the alcohol. Larger snakes and small quadrupeds may be skinned, 

 and the skins placed in alcohol. 



6. Red chalk pencils for marking the bags. 



7. I'archment to serve as labels for the bags. This may also be cut 

 up into labels, and fastened by strings to such specimens as are not 

 suited for the bags. Leather, kid, buckskin, &c., will also answer this 

 purpose. 



8. Fishing-line and hooks. 



9. Small seines for catching fishes in small streams. The two ends 

 should be fastened to brails or sticks (hoe-handles answer well), which 

 are taken in the hands of two persons, and the net drawn both up and 

 down stream. Fishes may often be caught by stirring up the gravel 

 or small stones in a stream, and drawing the net rapidly down the cur- 

 rent. Bushes or holes along the banks may be inclosed by the nets, 

 and stirred so as to drive out the fishes, which usually lurk in such 

 localities. These nets may be six or eight feet long. 



10. Casting-net. 



11. Alcohol. About five gallons to each travelling jiarty. This 

 should be about 80 per cent, in strength^ and medicated by the addi- 

 tion of one ounce of tartar emetic to one gallon of alcohol, to prevent 

 persons from drinking it. 



12. Arsenic in two-pound tin canisters. This may be applied to the 

 moist skins of birds and quadrupeds, either dry or mixed with alcohol. 



13. Tartar emetic for medicating the alcohol, as above. 



14. Cotton or tow for stuffing out the heads of birds and mammals. 

 To economize space, but little should be put into the bodies of the ani- 

 mals. The skulls of the quadrupeds had better be removed from the 

 skins, but carefully preserved wth a common mark. 



