276 



THE LIFE OF CRUSTACEA 



or else become so rigid that these break on the 

 slightest manipulation. This may often be avoided 

 by killing the animals in weak spirit (30 per cent, or 

 less) before preserving in strong spirit. Marine 

 species may also be killed by placing them in fresh 

 water, care being taken not to allow them to remain 

 in it longer than is necessary, as it causes distortion 

 of the membranous appendages. 



The larger Crabs, Lobsters, and the like, may be 

 preserved dry, although in this state they are 

 unsuitable for examination of the more delicate 

 appendages. The carapace should be detached, and 

 the soft parts cleaned away as far as possible, a 

 bent wire being used, if necessary, to remove the 

 flesh from the legs. The specimens should be dried 

 in the shade, to preserve as much as possible of the 

 natural colour. 



With specimens intended for permanent preserva- 

 tion in spirit, the use of corks should be avoided, as 

 they discolour the spirit, and ultimately the speci- 

 mens. Small specimens are most conveniently kept 

 in glass tubes closed with a piece of clean elder-pith 

 (not cotton-wool), and placed, upside down, in a 

 bottle of spirit. Labels to be placed inside the 

 tubes are best written with Indian ink, and allowed 

 to dry before immersion in the spirit. 



