THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. lOl 



I may mention, was shot near the same spot in June, 

 1894. After wandering backwards and forwards in all classes 

 of timber many other well-known birds were noted, and in one 

 thick bush the nest of the Yellow-tufted Honey-eater, Ftilotis 

 auricomis, was found, containing two eggs. These were care- 

 fully boxed, and a start made on the homeward track. On the 

 way the following additional birds were shot, and since forwarded 

 to the National Museum : — Pardalotus ornatus, Acanthiza nana, 

 and Pachycephala rujiventris, male and female. A return visit to 

 partake of Mrs. Raleigh's kind hospitality was now made, and as 

 the wind had dropped to a gentle breeze the homeward walk was 

 very pleasant. Near the farm-house a small flock of crows were 

 seen, and one bird slightly wounded and captured. As some 

 time ago a good deal of interest was taken in endeavouring to 

 decide whether the White-eyed and Hazel-eyed Crows were dis- 

 tinct species, it may be interesting to know that this bird, which 

 is still alive, has one white eye and the other a bright yellow one. 

 — G. A. Keartland. 



FORMALIN AS A GENERAL PRESERVATIVE FOR 

 ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE STRUCTURES. 



By O. a. Sayce. 



fRead before Field Naturalists' Club 0/ Victoria, IWi November, 1895.^ 



Of late years formalin, or formol, as it is sometimes called, has 

 won a position of eminence amongst preservatives of animal and 

 vegetable structures, and it is with the desire of making it known 

 amongst the members of our Club that these remarks are made. 



As field naturalists we all recognize the importance of pre- 

 serving what we may collect in as natural a condition as possible, 

 but let me emphasize the need to preserve, not alone a specimen's 

 general appearance, but its anatomical and histological structure, 

 and to do this it is of the utmost importance to treat the specimen 

 as quickly as possible after its death, and so avoid post-mortem 

 changes, which so soon take place ; for should we, or any special- 

 ist we may pass our specimen on to, have to submit any part to 

 microscopical examination it is in the highest degree important 

 that the structure should have been faithfully preserved. For 

 this to be done the specimens have to be treated frequently in 

 the field, for there are comparatively few objects we can con- 

 veniently carry home alive. We have many chemical solutions 

 that are satisfactoiy in this respect for special and laboratory 

 work, but are impracticable for general field work. For instance, 

 for the earthworm and soft-bodied animals we have picro- 

 sulphuric acid, but this will not do for vertebrates, as it swells 

 the cells ; nor will it do for mollusca, as it attacks the lime of the 

 shell. There is corrosive sublimate in solution, but this is a 



