THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 121 



the Egyptian fields. The petals of the larkspur (Delphinium 

 orientale, Gay) not only retain their reddish-violet colour, but 

 present the peculiar markings which are still found in the living 

 plants. A garland composed of wild celery (Apium graveolens, 

 L.) and small flowers of the blue lotus (Nymphsea cserulea, Sav.), 

 fastened together by fibres of papyrus, was found in a mummy 

 •of the 2oth dynasty about 3000 years old," &c. &c. 



In the Egyptian room of the British Museum is a wig as 

 brilliant and fresh as when it came from the hands of its maker 

 some 3000 years ago. There is nothing very surprising in this, 

 for hair, by the ordinary agencies of nature, is imperishable. 

 But flowers — the apt emblems of decay, of fading beauty, and 

 of fleeting pleasure — to be preserved " with scarcely any 

 change," almost as fresh in appearance as their living 

 descendants, is surely contrary to anticipation. Not to 

 moralise, however, but to read a practical lesson in flower- 

 preservation, we have here the specimens hermetically sealed, 

 kept thoroughly dry, and in the dark. 



To preserve flowers in their natural shape and colour the hot 

 sand process is a type of all the methods, and may be generally 

 glanced at. The shape is preserved by embedding in the sand, 

 for there is just sufficient pressure to prevent collapse, and any 

 material would serve as well as, or even better than, sand which 

 is a good absorbent of moisture without being injurious to the 

 colour. Next, the colour is preserved by the heating, for it 

 would appear that the rapid evaporation of the moisture fixes 

 the colour on the surface ; and, finally, having preserved shape 

 and colour, it is still necessary to exclude the moisture and give 

 rigidity to the parts. The natural stiffness depends to a large 

 extent on the dilatation of the cells by water, and, having 

 removed that, the cells collapse and become flaccid unless 

 artificial stiff"ness be imparted. This may be done by a 

 gum such as dammar, which stiffens and hermetically seals 

 without aff'eci.ing colour. Light no doubt aff'ects the colour in 

 certain cases, and so the mummy specimens had a certain 

 advantage there, but we must sacrifice that advantage in order 

 to have the pleasure and use of our specimens. 



To meet all these requirements then, I consider it neces- 

 sary : — 



To dry the flower by heat. 



To preserve shape by imbedding it in an absorbent of mois- 

 ture. 



To render it impervious to damp by coating it with dammar or 

 some such varnish, and stiff"ening at the same time. 



Various proposed methods may now be passed under review- 

 beginning with the hot sand process. The heat required is 



