124 THE VICTOEIAX XATURALIST. 



recommended to put them into warm paper and change 

 frequently, in order to preserve the colour by rapidity of drymg. 

 And by this method shape and colour may be beautifully 

 preserved, even surpassing my expectations. There are 

 seventy-four species of Victorian orchids (exactly double the 

 number of the British), and since this group of plants is so 

 much prized and sought after, their preservation ought, indeed, 

 to be a " labour of love." Other plants, which have resisted 

 the ordinary methods of drying, such as the magnolias, I mean to 

 attempt as soon as specimens are obtainable. 



II. Dry Preservation of Fungi. 



It will not be necessary to say much under this head, since I 

 have simply to recommend a process devised by Mr. English, 

 and published in a little book entitled "A IManual on the 

 Preservation of the Larger Fungi and Wild Flowers," a work 

 which ought to be in the hands of all interested in the subject. 



The preservation of the larger Fungi in any shape or colour 

 has always been considered a most difficult task ; nay, to 

 preserve their colour has been pronounced an impossibility. 

 But the impossible in this case has been rendered possible, 

 and, after noticing a few of the methods tried, the final solution 

 of the difficulty will be given 



?ilr. Holmes, in the article " Herbarium," in the Encyclo- 

 pccdi'a Bntan?iica, thus describes the usual method : — 



" The larger species of Fungi, such as Agaricini, Polyporei, 

 &c., are prepared for the herbarium by cutting a slice 

 out of the centre of the plant, so as to show the outline 

 of the pileus, the attachment of the gills, and the chancter 

 of the interior of the stem. The remaining two halves 

 of the pileus are then lightly pressed, as well as the 

 central slice, between bibulous paper until dry, and the whole is 

 then poisoned and gummed to a sheet of paper in such a 

 manner as to show the under surface of the one, and the upper 

 surface of the other half of the pileus on the same sheet. As it 

 is impossible to preserve the natural colours of Fungi, the 

 specimens should, whenever possible, be accompanied by a 

 coloured drawing of the plant. Fungi, under any circum- 

 stances, form the least satisfactory portion of an herbarium." 



It will be seen from the above brief description that the 

 ordinary method of Fungi preservation is not by any means 

 satisfactory, so that there is scope here for experimenting. 



I have myself tried two methods which have given good 

 results as far as the natural shape is concerned : — 



I St. Soaking in melted paraffin for some time, so as to 

 permeate the entire structure, and thus preserve, and render the 



