GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ALABAMA 



salamanders use only one half this strength or a 20 per 

 cent, solution. After the injection, which should be 

 near the heart, drop them into a closed container, where 

 they will be safe during the few minutes of death strug- 

 gle. 



When dead and before stiffened, inject them again 

 with a weak or 4 per cent solution of formaldehyde and 

 water in several places throughout the body, so that the 

 solution may penetrate all parts and thus prevent decom- 

 position. In the case of snakes an injection should be 

 made in the tail, just behind the anal opening, this will 

 bring out the genitals in male specimens and make them 

 of more scientific value. The mouth of a poisonous snake 

 is kept open and showing the fangs by the use of a small 

 piece of carton or cotton inserted just behind the fangs 

 between the upper and lower jaw. The specimen must now 

 be labeled, writing with India ink on a Dennison label the 

 name, date, locality, habitat, and name of collector, af- 

 ter which lay out the specimen in an attractive shape 

 and form so as to fit the preserving jar and let it harden 

 for about twelve hours, when it may be sealed up in a 

 jar or vial filled with a solution of formaldehyde or 

 grain alcohol. For the former solution use two ounces 

 of 40 per cent, formaldehyde to each quart of water. 

 When alcohol is used, it should be 75 per cent, grain al- 

 cohol for reptiles and 60 per cent, alcohol for amphibians. 



Specimens should be looked over from time to time to 

 see that they are covered with preserving fluid of the 

 proper strength to keep them from decomposing. 



IMPORTANT LITERATURE 



It is beyond the scope of this report to include a bibli- 

 ography ; but for the guidance of prospective students it 

 may be well to mention a few technical and popular text 

 books in general use. Foremost among the former are 

 the two National Museum Reports by Edward D. Cope, 

 viz: "The Batrachia of North America", (Bulletin 34 

 of the U. S. National Museum 1889), and "The Croco- 

 dilians, Lizards and Snakes of North America", (Report 



