25 



skin and fix it on a board prepared for that purpose. Pin or tack 

 it down at the base of the fins. Have several narrow bands of 

 paper to place across the body in order to give it a natural form, 

 and let it dry. The skins may be taken off the board or remain 

 fixed to it, when sent to their destination, where they should be 

 placed on suitable boards of proper size, for permanent preserva- 

 tion. 



Such a collection of well-prepared fishes will be useful to the 

 practical naturalist, and illustrate, in a more complete ma-nner, to 

 the public the diversified forms and characters of the class of fishes 

 which specimens preserved in alcohol do not so readily show. 



These skins may also be preserved in alcohol. 



§ lY. PRESERVING IN LIQUIDS, AND BY OTHER MODES 

 BESIDES SKINNING. 



1 . GENERAL REMARKS. 



The best material for preserving animals of moderate size is 

 alcohol. When spirits cannot be obtained, the following substi- 

 tutes may be used : — 



I. Goadby's Solution. — A. Hie aluminous Jluid, composed of 

 rock salt, 4 ounces ; alum, 2 ounces ; corrosive sublimate, 4 

 grains ; boiling water, 2 quarts. B. Tlie saline solution, composed 

 of rock-salt, 8 ounces ; corrosive sublimate, 2 grains ; boiling 

 water, 1 quart. To be well stirred, strained, and cooled. 



II. A strong brine, to be used as hereafter indicated for 

 Goadby's Solution, 



III. In extreme cases, dry salt may be used, and the specimens 

 salted down like herring, &c. 



The alcohol, when of the ordinary strength, may be diluted with 

 one-fifth of water, unless it is necessary to crowd the specimens 

 very much. The fourth proof whiskey of the distillery, or the 

 high wines, constituting an alcohol of about 60 per cent., will be 

 found best suited for collections made at permanent stations and 

 for the museum. Lower proofs of rum or whiskey will also answer, 

 but the specimen must not be crowded at all. 



To use Goadby's Solution, the animal should first be macerated 

 for a few hours in fresh water, to which about half its volume of 



