200 the naturalist's guide. 



become entangled in the trailing-ropes, and brought 

 up. 



Astr^cea, Fungacea, etc., Brain and Mushroom 

 Coral. — This form of Coral is, perhaps, the hardest to 

 collect. They may be procured by expert divers, who 

 break them loose with hammer and chisel, or they 

 may be broken off with a sponging-hook, and thus 

 brought to the surface. 



PRESERVING CORAL, BLEACHING, ETC. 



Coral that is to be preserved with the natural color 

 should be carefully dried in the shade ; but all Corals 

 may be bleached nicely, by dipping in salt water once 

 a day, and exposing to the sun. They should be first 

 killed by exposing them for a few hours to the heat of 

 the sun; then allowed to lie for twenty-four hours 

 in water, when the gelatinous animals will be dis- 

 solved, and will run out of the cells. Then they 

 should be rinsed and exposed to the sun. 



Acting, Sea- Anemones, may be looked for at low 

 tide on rocks, or found by dredging (as the deep-water 

 species adhere to shells, stones, etc.). They may be re- 

 moved from a smooth surface by carefully sliding 

 along until some is introduced beneath the sucking 

 disk, when they will become loosened; or they may be 

 taken off by means of the blunt edge of a spoon or 

 some similar instrument. These objects, which are so 

 beautiful while living, possessing colors which vie with 

 the flowers, are exceedingly difficult to preserve. They 

 change very much in alcohol ; but Prof. A. Hyatt in- 

 forms me that he has found picric acid the best me- 

 dium by which the colors may be kept. 



Hydroids and Bryozoa. — I have found quanti- 



