39 
ly in cotton or saw-dust, so that they may not rub each other. 
No attempt should be made to clean or polish them by acids, 
which destroy them for the purposes of the naturalist. When 
the shells are bivalve, such as oysters, cockles, &c. they are of 
little comparative value unless both the sides are procured. 
Many of the univalves are furnished with opercula or lids, which 
close the mouths of the shells, and in all cases these should 
be carefully preserved. 
CORALS, SEA FANS, &e. — 
Require only to be steeped in fresh water for au hour or 
two, then dried, and packed carefully. 
CRABS, LOBSTERS, &c. 
Large sized ones require to have the flesh removed, which is 
effected by separating the shell of the back, leaving the claws 
and legs attached to the lower shell, then taking away as much 
of the flesh as possible: the large claws can only be cleared of 
their contents by breaking a hole in the under side of each 
joint, and taking out the flesh with a crooked instrument, or it 
may perhaps be effected by removing the small joint of the 
nippers, and making incisions in the membrane at the joints. 
If one of these animals be placed in or near an ant’s nest, those 
little insects will devour the flesh in a few hours, and leave 
the shell entire. Where ants are plentiful, this is by far the 
best and easiset method. 
After the flesh is removed, the shells should be well soaked 
with solution of corrosive sublimate, stuffed with cotton, and 
dried. 
Smaller specimens may be set up, and preserved in the 
same manner as insects, only that they should be previously 
soaked for a short time in fresh water, and afterwards wet with 
the solution of corrosive sublimate. They may be also pre- 
served in spirits. 
These animals all require great care in the packing 
ASTERIAS, OR STAR-FISH, 
Require only to be steeped in fresh water for a short time, 
then spread on a piece of board, and fastened with pins; after 
