14 NATURALISTS’ “ASSISTANT. 
In putting in alcohol the abdominal walls should be opened 
so that the spirit may the more readily enter and thus ensure 
the preservation of the viscera, some parts of which are very 
important even from a systematic standpoint. 
Fishes in alcohol do not present a very interesting or 
attractive appearance on the shelves of a museum, and only 
the ichthyologist is able to decide on the identity of alcoholic 
and fresh specimens. Many attempts have been made to 
preserve fish dry but the majority of methods employed do 
not produce very satisfactory results. The best process 
known to the writer is that invented by Dr. H. E. Davidson, 
who has not only described his method but has also given 
chances to witness the operation which is as follows : 
The necessary materials are thin pieces of soft wood about 
one-eighth of an inch in thickness ; square sticks measuring 
from three-fourths of an inch upwards; plaster of paris, 
glycerine, tissue paper, pins, and double pointed carpet tacks: 
The outline of the fish without the fins is marked on 
two pieces of board which are held together by pieces of the 
square sticks tacked across the ends, and then the portion 
corresponding to the body is cut away so that we have two 
strips of wood one following the dorsal and the other the 
ventral contour of the fish. The fish is then placed in this 
opening and the various fins are extended and fixed in 
position with pins, the board in the meantime being supported 
so that one side of the fish can freely extend through the 
opening in the joined boards. Strips of tissue paper wet 
with glycerine are then laid smoothly over the fish and next 
a coating of plaster is poured over the same side. When 
