VOL. XLll.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRAKSACTIONS. 5{^ 



A Method of preparing Specimens of Fish, by drying their Skins, as practised by 

 John Frid. Gronovius,* M. D. at Ley den. 1S1° 463, p. 57. 



There are requisite for this purpose, a pair of scissars, with very fine blades, 

 and sharp points. Small wooden plates of the lime-tree, or wooden trenchers. 

 A very fine needle. Slips of parchment as large as the fishes. Minikin or 

 small pins. 



Take hold of the fish with your left hand, so as that the belly may be towards 

 the hollow of your hand, and its head pointed to your breast. Then with the 

 needle make a wound behind its head, into which introduce one of the points 

 of your scissars, cutting gently from thence along to the tail. If you would 

 preserve the right side, the scissars are to be conducted on the left side of the 

 fin. This being done from the head to the tail, the scissars are to be pointed 

 deeper, and the flesh divided quite to the back-bone. Then turn the fish with 

 its back downward, and its belly upward, and proceed in the same manner, 

 cutting with the scissars through both head and jaws. Take away the brain and 

 gills. The fish then easily parts, the intestines appear, which may be easily 

 taken away. The back-bones are then to be cut asunder, the fish is to be 

 washed, rubbed till it is dry with a linen cloth, and placed on a board, in such 

 a manner, that the skin, covered with its scales, may lie uppermost, and all the 

 fins and tail are to be expanded with pins. Let it then be exposed to the sun, 

 if in summer, or, if in winter, to the fire, till the skin grows quite dry and 

 hard, when it must be turned, and the flesh exposed to the sun or fire, till it 

 also is dry ; and then the skin may be separated from the flesh with very little 

 trouble, and, being put between papers, must be pressed flat. But as a sort of 

 glutinous matter, in pressing, is always forced out from between the scales and 

 the skin, a piece of parchment is to be laid under the fish, which is easily sepa- 

 rated from the scales, as paper always sticks ; for this reason it is necesary, that 

 after an hour or two, a fresh piece of parchment should be applied: and thus, 

 in the space of 24 hours, the fish is prepared. 



Account of the Fire-ball seen Dec. II, 1741. By Capt, IVilliam Gordon. 



N° 463, p. 58. 



On Friday the 1 1th of December 1741, about 1 p.m. coming by water from 

 the city to Whitehall, and near to Hungerford- stairs, there appeared to Capt. 

 G. between Vauxhall and Lambeth, a body of fire : it sprung upwards in its 

 ascent almost perpendicular to the horizon, to the height of about 35", in the 



* Dr. John Frid. Gronovius, a physician at Leyden, is chiefly known by his work entitled Zoo- 

 phylacium, in folio, containing good descriptions, accompanied by figures, of noany- rare and curioii& 

 animals, particularly fishes, insects, and amphibia. ■ ^ _. . • ,., ; •»' 



