NATURAL HISTORY. 24.7 



(alive if possible) as collected. The entrance of the spirit into the 

 cavities of the body should be facilitated by opening the mouth, 

 making a small incision in the abdomen u half or one incb long, of 

 by injecting the liquor into the intestines through the anus, by means 

 of a small syringe. After the animal has soaked for some weeks in 

 this liquor, it should bo transferred to fresh. Care should be taken 

 not to crowd tlie specimens too much. When it is impossible to transfer 

 specimens to fresh spirits irom time to time, the strongest alcohol 

 should be originally used. 



To pack the specimens for transportation, procure a small keg, 

 which has been i)roperly swelled, by allowing water to stand in it for 

 a day or two, and from this extract the head by knocking off the upper 

 hoops. Great care must be taken to make such marks on the hoops and 

 head, as will assist in their being rejdaced in precisely the same relative 

 position to each other and the keg that they originally held. At the 

 bottom of the keg place a layer of tow or rags, moistened in liquor, 

 then one of specimens, then another of tow and another of specimens, 

 and so on alternately until the keg is entirely filled, exclusive of the 

 spirit. Replace the head, drive down the hoops, and fill completely 

 with spirits by pouring through the bung-hole. Allow it to stand at 

 least half an hour, and then supplying the deficiency of the liquor, 

 insert the bung and fasten it securely. An oyster-can or other tin 

 vessel may be used to great advantage, in which case the aperture 

 should be soldered up and the vessel inclosed in a box. A glass jar or 

 bottle may also be employed, but there is always a risk of breaking 

 and leaking. In the absence of tow, or rags, chopped straw, fine 

 shavings, or dry grass may be substituted. 



It will conduce greatly to the perfect preservation of the specimens, 

 during transportation, if each one is wrapped up in cotton cloth, or 

 even paper. A number of smaller specimens may be rolled succes- 

 sively in the same wrapper. In this way friction, and the consequent 

 destruction of scales, fins, &c., will be prevented almost entirely. 

 The travelling bags, already described, will answer the same purpose. 



Should the specimens to be packed vary in size, the largest should 

 be placed at the bottom. If the disproportion be very great, the deli- 

 cate objects at the top must be separated from those below, by means 

 of some immovable partition, which, in the event of the vessel being 

 inverted, will prevent crushing. The most imperative rule, however, 

 in packing, is to have the vessel perfectly full, any vacancy exposing 

 the whole to the risk of loss. 



It is sometimes necessary to guard against the theft of the spirit em- 

 ployed, by individuals who will not be deterred from drin'ang it by 

 the presence of reptiles, &c. This may be done by adding a small 

 quantity of tartar emetic, ipecacuanha, quassia, or some other disa- 

 greeable substance. Tlie addition of corrosive sublimate will add to 

 the preservative power of the spirit. 



2. VERTEBRATA. 



Fishes under five or six inches in length need not have the abdom- 

 inal incision. Specimens with the scales and fins perfect should be 

 selected, and, if convenient, stitched,, pinned, or wrapped in bits of 



