108 METHODS OF COLLECTING ANL) l>llI:SERVINGl 



and sew the net on to the cotton. Four equal lengths of strong fin6 

 cord are fastened at equidistant points round the ring, and tied 

 together about 3 feet in front of the ring. The single cord is 

 attached to the knot, and its length is adjusted so that the upper 

 edge of the ring is above the water. A zinc can is fixed at the 

 bottom of the net. If it is required to collect from a depth of one or 

 more fathoms, a weight is attached to the line near the knot at the 

 junction of the four cords. 



When tl e net is taken on board, the can is emptied, and the net 

 turned inside-out into a fish-globe or other vessel full of sea-water. 

 Some specimens may be removed with a pipette for special treatment 

 (see below, Medusce). For the rest, osmic acid is added to the sea- 

 water ; the animals will die and sink to the bottom ; the sea-water 

 is drawn off, and the residue washed in fresh-water and graded 

 into alcohol. 



PACKING. 



1. Too many specimens should not be placed in one bottle. 



2. The spirit should be quite clean at the time of forwarding. 



3. Perhaps the best packing- material is horse-hair. Wood shav- 

 ings, sawdust, soft paper scrunched up into loose balls, are fairly good. 



4. Many Crustaceans and Ophiuroids are well sent after being 

 sewn on to stiff cardboard. 



Corals. — Dry specimens of stony corals should be carefully wrapped 

 in several thicknesses of soft paper — as much paper, indeed, as will 

 prevent the angles and points from puncturing it — and should then 

 be laid in sawdust, the coarser the better, and all packed down tight 

 to prevent jostling together. The object of covering the specimens 

 with plenty of paper is to prevent the filling-material (sawdust and 

 suchHke) from getting in and choking their calicles and finer 

 sculpturings. 



Delicately branching or foliate specimens should be treated in the 

 same way, but in addition should be protected from the weight of 

 the others by being placed in separate boxes, or by partitions naikd 

 into the case. 



N.B. — Sawdust or cotton-wool should never come in direct contact 

 with the specimens, which must be quite dry before packing. 



