76 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



process as being eminently easy for all, inexpensive, requiring a 

 minimum of trouble, and withal yielding satisfactory results in 

 comparison to totally dried specimens. 



The process is based upon the use of a substance having 

 preservative properties and which will prevent the tissues of our 

 specimens from suffering desiccation on prolonged exposure to the 

 air. A substance of pre-eminent importance in this respect is 

 glycerine. 



It is, however, necessary to have the tissues rapidly infiltrated 

 by a preservative before post-mortem changes take place, and 

 glycerine alone is not suitable, on account of its relative high 

 density ; and also, when the specimens are withdrawn with a view 

 to their partial drying, the hygroscopic property of the glycerine 

 prevents this being practicable. 



It should be borne in mind that glycerine is a powerful solvent 

 of many substances. In dealing with delicate animals containing 

 lime salts the glycerine to be used, or any mixture of it, may first 

 be saturated with a little powdered bone or shells, but in practice 

 I have not found this necessary. 



The following mixture I have found to fulfil the more 

 important requirements for Crustacea. It also will serve as a basis 

 to work from for more difhcult v subjects ; change in the pro- 

 portion of glycerine, and also hardening treatment with a solution 

 of such substances as chloride of zinc, alcohol, or formalin will 

 be necessary in attempting these, either preliminary to or in 

 conjunction with glycerine: — Glycerine, i J / 2 parts; water, i 

 part ; methylated spirit, x part (each by volume) ; corrosive sub- 

 limate, i in 2,000. 



Specimens may first be put into 70 per cent, alcohol for any 

 length of time, or they may be placed directly into the mixture 

 (preferably after having been well washed with fresh water to 

 remove the salt), and after they have soaked sufficiently long to 

 allow of all the tissues being penetrated by it, they may be taken 

 out, set aside for a few days, during which time the spirit will 

 have evaporated, and according to the condition of the atmosphere 

 there will have been more or less evaporation of the water. The 

 glycerine will, of course, remain in the tissues however dry the air 

 may be, so that desiccation of the tissues need not be feared. 

 The specimens now may be stored in suitable boxes, or wrapped 

 in waterproof paper, but on account of the hygroscopic property 

 of the glycerine, if the air in these boxes becomes very damp the 

 surfaces of the specimens will become more or less wet, to again 

 dry with change of atmospheric conditions, but by the use of the 

 alcohol this has been minimized as far as possible. If important 

 to prevent this irregular condition, it is necessary to coat the 

 specimens with some suitable waterproof covering that will not 

 become too brittle and be without any colour, also that will 



