130 ANATOMICAL TECHNOLOGY. 



Scaly Specimens. Most " fishes" and som-a Reptiles should be 

 wrapped in gauze or netting, or any porous cloth or soft paper. 

 The wrapper should be secured with a string. 



Delicate Specimens. The delicacy may be due to smallness or 

 softness, or to the presence of projecting parts which are liable to 

 injury. 



The safest way is to put each specimen in a separate vial or jar 

 quite full of alcohol, or in a small box witli saturated cotton which 

 may be immersed in a larger jar or can. 



When several delicate specimens are to be packed in the same 

 vessel, they should be separated by layers of cotton thoroughly 

 saturated with alcohol. After the alcohol is poured in, the jar 

 should stand for an hour at least to allow time for settling. If 

 any occur, more cotton should be put in. 



Packing without Alcohol. When the time of transmission by 

 mail or express is short, specimens may be safely sent if covered 

 with a layer of alcoholic cotton, then wrapped in rubber sheeting, 

 and packed in a wooden or metal box, or in a vial properly pro- 

 tected. 



Secure Closure of Vessels. Always important with alcoholic 

 specimens, this is essential before transportation. In all cases the 

 vessel should be laid on its side or stood upon the upper end after 

 closing, so as to determine the possibility of leakage. 



The glass stoppers should be anointed with vaseline or fine oil, 

 or a solution of paraffine in benzine or turpentine, and pushed in 

 with a slight screwing motion. The jar should then be rolled in 

 cloth, and the cloth turned tightly over the upper end of the jar and 

 tied down so as to secure the stopper. 



The covers of fruit jars and specimen jars should be screwed down 

 more firmly than usual. If possible, all jars should stand upright 

 during transportation, and be well packed in hay or other soft 

 material. 



Welted Vials may be let through holes in a board so as to be 

 supported by the welt. The board may rest on cleets in a box. 



Packing boxes of tin are usually closed by soldering. 



When earthen jars are used, the corks should be pushed below 

 the level of the rim of the mouth, and the space filled up with a 

 thick paste of plaster of Paris. 



320. Miscellaneous Suggestions. Specimens having- prominent appendages, 

 whether arms, legs, winp^s, fins or spines, especially if they are stiff or angular, should 

 be put into jars tail first, so that their removal may be unobstructed. 



