TAXIDERMY. 10? 



collections perfectly preserved ; we will now point 

 out a method of refixing them, provided we have 

 taken care to collect all the spines ; and, indeed, 

 the operation requires much address, and great 

 dexterity of finger. All the places of the spines 

 are indicated on the shell of the echinus by so 

 many tubercles. We procure a small gimblet ; and 

 pierce a hole about a quarter of an inch deep, in 

 that end of the spine which was attached to the 

 shell. When these are bored, we introduce a 

 needle into the hole, to fix which we add a little 

 gum arable or warm isinglass ; the spines being 

 thus prepared, we fill the shell of the echinus with 

 jnelted bees-wax, taking care to stop all the open- 

 ings, to prevent the warm wax from escaping at 

 the moment we put it in. When it is well con- 

 gealed, we make a hole in the middle of each 

 tubercle, and lay all the spines on the table, and 

 determine the place of each on the shell; then 

 taking one of the superior spines, we warm tlu- 

 needle which comes from it in the candle, and in- 

 troduce it quite hot into the hole of the tubercle to 

 which it belongs ; the wax inside the shell having 

 been melted by the introduction of the hot needle, 

 soon congeals again, and retains the spine in im- 

 proper position ; we do the same with all the rest, 

 and the echinus resumes its natural appearance. 



F 6 



