64 THE NATURALIST'S GUIDE. 



large fishes should also be injected with alcohol before put- 

 ing them in it. 



There is, however, another method by which fishes may be 

 preserved ; that is, by skinning and stuffing. Thus : Open 

 the fish on the under side from the throat nearly to the end 

 of the body, or within a short distance of the root of the tail ; 

 then skin down each way, taking care not to scrape off any 

 of the pigment that covers the inside of the skin and gives 

 the fish its color ; cut off the fins close to the skin on the 

 inside, also the head at the gills ; clean out the brains by 

 enlarging the hole in the occiput, where the spinal cord 

 enters the skull; remove the eye from the outside, dust 

 arsenic into the orifice left, and fill it with cotton ; cover 

 the inside of the skin with arsenic ; fill it to the natural 

 size with cotton, and sew it up ; place a wire transversely 

 through the fins to keep them in position. 



Another method is to remove the skin from one side, 

 and to clean the flesh out in this way ; the fish is then 

 stuffed and placed upon its side, so that the opening will 

 not show. This method will answer very well for flat 

 fishes, but large ones must always be stuffed in the man- 

 ner first described. 



SECTION II. Reptiles. Many a harmless snake or toad 

 has been sacrificed to ignorance and superstition. Indeed, 

 so strong is the general prejudice against the most com- 

 mon snakes, which are as incapable of inflicting an injury 

 as a mouse, that but few persons will hesitate to kill the 

 supposed venomous reptile at sight, if indeed they have 

 the courage to remain long enough in its vicinity to do so 

 valiant a deed. Such persons really believe that they are 

 removing a dangerous adversary of man from the face of 

 the earth. I would, however, advise them to glance for a 

 single instant at the history of these interesting al- 

 though, I will allow, somewhat disgusting-looking ani- 

 mals before they again shed innocent blood. All the snakes 



