104 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



After further work in this direction I hope to give you my results. 

 My purpose to-night is only to speak of it in a general way. 

 However, as so many animal forms are invested with a thick 

 integument, I will just mention two plans I have adopted with 

 success for the sake of hastening the penetration of formalin to 

 all parts of the specimen. This object is a rnost important one 

 for faithful preservation of detail of structure. One is to kill by 

 immersing in glacial acetic acid for a minute or two, or less, 

 according to circumstances, and without washing the acid out 

 place the specimen at once into 5 per cent, formalin, then the 

 next day wash the acid out with fresh 5 per cent, formalin. 

 Penetration is also, of course, greatly facilitated by heat ; but the 

 strength of the solution is readily weakened, on account of the 

 formic aldehyde being driven off — but, bearing this in mind, it 

 will be found at times useful. I have also used various strengths 

 of sulphuric acid, mixed with 5 per cent, formalin, for insects, 

 &c., but, of course, not on vertebrate structure, as it would cause 

 swelling of the tissues. Alcohol also may be used with it. 



As to the cost of formalin, it can be procured at any chemist's 

 at the rate of six shillings a pound. Seeing that one pound 

 weight contains 15 fluid ounces, it will therefore make 300 ounces 

 or i^ gallons of a 5 per cent, solution ; so, compared with 

 methylated spirit, it will be found cheaper. Its portability will be 

 apparent ; when travelling it can be carried in strong solution, 

 and reduced as required. 



With these remarks my purpose is served, and if they stimulate 

 any to work with greater care, and help by the more faithful 

 preservation of detail in material collected, I shall feel that I 

 have not taken up your time for nothing. 



NOTES ON CHLAMYDODERA ORIENTALIS, GOULD. 



By Alfred J. North, F.L.S. (Ornithologist to the Australian 

 Museum, Sydney). 



Chlamydodera orienialis, Gould, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 5, 

 vol. iv., p. 74 (1879) ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. vi., 

 p. 392 (1881); Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 11, No. 

 335 (1888); Sharpe, Mon. of Paradis. and Ptilono., part i., 

 pi. ix. (1891). 



The peculiar habits of the Ptilonorhynchidie in forming playing- 

 grounds or bowers, in some instances of a highly ornate 

 character, adds an additional charm to all the members of this 

 interesting family. Chlamydodera orieritalis, the species under 

 consideration, was separated by Gould, in 1879, from C.nuchalis, 

 of the north-western coast, on account of having whitish tips to 

 the feathers of the head, and broader white margins and tips to 



