Ilurter — Herpetology of Missouri. 63 



In an hour and a half or two the specimen will be stiff 

 and retain the position first given it. In large snakes — 

 about % inch thick and two or more feet long — the liquid 

 should be injected at intervals of about three inches. By 

 injecting behind the vent the copulating organs are gen- 

 erally brought out in the male. Always inject the tail 

 of snakes, but not that of lizards. Turtles, after death, 

 should have the head, feet and tail drawn out from the 

 shell and the mouth opened by placing a small piece of 

 wood between the jaws. After the specimen has been 

 prepared as given above, it should be placed in the pre- 

 serving fluid in a glass or earthenware jar. Never crowd 

 too many specimens into one receptacle. 



Hoiv to pack and ship specimens. — Specimens, after be- 

 ing immersed in the preserving fluid for one or two 

 weeks, according to size, will be sufficiently hardened to 

 stand transportation for a considerable distance in a 

 damp state. A cigar box or a baking powder can will 

 answer very well for small shipments by mail. Wrap 

 the reptile in cotton batting, soak it in the preserving 

 fluid and squeeze out most of it, taking care, however, 

 not to press the specimen too much. Then place the 

 specimen solidly in the box, but not too tightly, and wrap 

 several thicknesses of strong paper around the parcel. 



Harmless specimens. — The following reptiles are non- 

 poisonous and may be handled with impunity. All toads, 

 frogs, salamanders, water dogs, and mud puppies, all 

 lizards and all turtles, and all snakes with the exception 

 of Coral Snakes, Copperheads, Cottonmouths, and Eat- 

 tlesnakes, which are poisonous and should be handled 

 with the greatest care. 



Class Amphibia. 



The amphibians, or batrachians, as they are also called, are anam- 

 niote, archaecraniate, and stomatophysous vertebrates possessing a well- 

 developed skull provided with a lower jaw and articulating with the 

 vertebral column by means of two occipital condyles; limbs, when not 

 atrophied, consisting of humerus or femur followed by two propodials 



