508 PREPARATION AND PRESERVATION 



REPTILES. Lizards are mounted in the same manner as qua- 

 drupeds; but much precaution is necessary in taking off the skin of 

 the tail, which easily breaks. The smaller species, which lose their 

 colours in preparation, are generally preserved in spirits. Frogs 

 are mounted by cutting the first cervical vertebra through the 

 opening of the mouth ; separating the attachments of the mouth, 

 taking out the viscera by this opening, folding back the skin, 

 and pushing the body out. After being wholly detached, the 

 skin is filled by means of a funnel with very fine sand. When 

 the body and feet are perfectly full, the frog is placed on a board, 

 in the proper attitude, its mouth shut, and put to dry. When 

 completely dried, it is coated with varnish, and the sand remov- 

 ed by boring small holes under the belly. The small species are 

 preserved in spirits. Serpents are prepared by an opening 

 made in the side, so as not to divide the ventral plates, and 

 mounted by passing a long wire twisted round with flax of the 

 proper thickness into the skin, and afterwards varnished ; but 

 the smaller species are best preserved in spirits. 



FISHES. The larger fishes are skinned by a longitudinal 

 opening made in the belly, and stuffed as quadrupeds, but var- 

 nished when dry. The smaller ones are sometimes mounted 

 by forming a cork body the size of the fish, but flattened on one 

 side ; and the skin being carefully dissected off the specimen, 

 is applied over the cork body, preserving the dorsal and ventral 

 fins. The preparation is then varnished and fixed to a board. 

 The very small species are preserved in spirits. Lampreys and 

 Eels are skinned by the mouth as frogs, and the skin filled 

 with sand. 



MOLLUSC A. Molluscous animals without shells can only be 

 preserved in spirits. The shells of the others require merely 

 brushing with soap and water after the animal is removed by boil- 

 ing water, to fit them for the cabinet. The soft parts of the Crus- 

 tacea require to be carefully removed. This is effected in the 

 claws by making a small opening and picking out the flesh. 

 The smaller species may be preserved as Insects, by passing a 

 pin through them, and affixing them to cork. 



The Arachnides generally lose their colour and shrivel up in 

 drying, and are therefore best preserved in spirits. 



