FISHES. 1 
are generally found in damp places under decaying timber, 
GUC. 
All of the lower vertebrates are best preserved as “‘wet 
specimens,” and in fact with the exception of the turtles and 
a few large forms are spoiled by being skinned and stuffed. 
In skinning turtles the lower shell (plastron) should first be 
removed with a chisel or saw ; the succeeding steps are essen- 
tially the same as pursued with mammals. Alligators and 
large lizards are skinned the same as mammals. When it 
is desired to put any of the lower vertebrates in alcohol, an 
incision should be made in the abdominal walls, so that the 
spirit may more readily penetrate the viscera. This is abso- 
lutely necessary if it be desired at any future time to investi- 
gate any more of the anatomy than the osteology. 
FISHES. 
Besides the familiar hook and line, fishes may be obtained 
by seines, trawls, etc., to be described further on under the 
7 
head, “Marine Collecting.”” A good way of obtaining many 
forms is to visit the fish markets; and also if possible hire 
the fishermen themselves to bring in specimens of all sorts 
that come up in their nets or on their lines. In this way 
many varieties may be obtained which never appear in the 
markets, as fishermen are accustomed to throw back all fish 
which according to their ideas are not edible. 
Fishes are almost universally preserved in alcohol, though 
some of the largest ones are occasionally stuffed. At such 
times a professional taxidermist had best be employed. 
