294 NATURAL SCIENCE. May, 



should be tried, and that the importation of living sponges from the 

 Mediterranean should be attempted. 



In the same issue of the Journal, Mr. Cunningham continues 

 the report of his valuable North Sea investigations. He deals with 

 the size of mature plaice, turbot, and brill on different fishing 

 grounds ; with special observations upon the fish taken at Grimsby, 

 Scarborough, Hull, and Lowestoft ; with the causes of distribution of 

 different-sized fish in different regions of the German Ocean ; and 

 with the influence of proposed restrictions on the sale of undersized 

 fish. The report contains a large bulk of matter of great interest to 

 naturalists and to the fishery trade. If we might venture to make a 

 suggestion to Mr. Cunningham, it would be that he should attempt to 

 sum up separately the conclusions which he sees to be of practical 

 value. Practical people prefer results treated categorically, rather 

 than philosophically. 



Mr. Albrecht Bethe gives a preliminary note, with a figure, of an 

 interestingly abnormal crab. To the left side of the fifth segment of 

 the abdomen there was attached a walking-leg. Mr. Bethe promises 

 a detailed account, with theoretical explanation of the abnormality, in 

 a " German journal." 



Preserving Fluids. 



In reference to our Note last month on the preservation of 

 molluscs, Mr. H. Hanna writes to us from Belfast that the use of 

 cocaine, and of graduated alcohol after the production of complete 

 anaesthesia, is not the only reliable method for molluscs. He has 

 found a less complicated course " simply perfect, both as regards 

 completeness of expansion and preservation of natural colour." An 

 Aplysia was put from sea-water directly into a small basin filled with 

 a 10 per cent, solution of chromic acid, and allowed to remain in that 

 for from one to two hours. It was then removed and washed 

 repeatedly, to get rid of the chromic acid, and passed through 

 graduated alcohols. He has a specimen in spirit, treated as above 

 last August, and now displaying the natural colours and fully 

 expanded state of the living animal. 



We learn that the use of formalin is becoming very general. It 

 has been employed with success, both as an injecting and a preserving 

 agency, in the Prosector's Laboratory at the Zoological Society's 

 Gardens. It is used in the anatomy rooms and in the pathological 

 departments of several hospitals in London, with varying success. It 

 is reported as being unsatisfactory for the preservation of brains, as it 

 renders them very brittle, and as it makes almost impossible the removal 

 of the pia mater from the preserved specimens. Two practical objections 

 are urged against its use. It has unpleasant effects upon the hands, 

 as we ourselves are able to testify. It makes the skin hard and dry, 

 and wrinkles the ends of the fingers, while it engrains dirt in an 

 undesirable fashion. Moreover, we have heard several complaints of 



