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DIRECTIONS FOR COLLECTING, &c., SPECIMENS OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



[1853. 



and all those belonging to the r.atural ordere of Placiods and 

 Ganoids should undei-go the same process as given above for 

 birds, mammals, and reptiles. An incision should be made along 

 the right sitle, the left always I'emaining intact, or along the belly. 

 The skin is next removed from the flesh, the fins cut at their 

 bases under the skin, and the latter inverted until the base of the 

 skull is exposed. The inner ca\ ity of the head should be cleaned, 

 an application of preservative be made, and the whole, after 

 being stutied in the ordinar}' way, sewed up again. Fins may 

 be expanded when wet on a piece of stiff paper, which will keep 

 them sufficiently stretched for the purpose. A varnish may be 

 passed o\er the whole body and fins, to preserve somewhat the 

 Color. 



In the ease of Ctenoids, perches and allied genera; and 

 Cycloids, trout.s suckei-s, and allied genera; one-half of the fish 

 may be skiimed and preserved. To efi'ect this, la)" the fish on a 

 table with the left side up ; the one it is intended to preserve. 

 Spread out (he fins by putting underneath each a piece of paper, 

 to whi.h it will adhere on drying. When the fins are di-ied, 

 turn the fish over, cut with scissoi-s or a knife all around the body, 

 a little within the dorsal and ventral lines, from the upper and 

 posterior part of the head, along the back to the ta.l, across the 

 base of the caudal fin down, aud thence along the belly to the 

 lower part of the head again. The doi-sal, caudal, and anal fins, 

 cut below their articulations. This done, separate the whole of 

 the body from the left side of the skin, commenciug at the tail. 

 When near the head, cut off the body with the light ventral and 

 pectoral fins, and proceed by making a section of the head and 

 removing nearly the half of it Clean the inside, and pull out 

 the left eye, leaving only the cornea and pupil. Cut a circular 

 piece of black paper of the size of the orbit, and place it close to 

 the pupil. Apply the preservative, fill the head with cotton as 

 ■well as the body. Turn over the skin and fix it on a board pre- 

 pared for that purpose. Pin or tack it down at the base of the 

 fins. Have several narrow bands of paper to place across the 

 body in order to give it a natiu-al form, and let it dry. The 

 skins may be taken off the board or remain fixed to it, when sent 

 to their destination, where they should be placed on suitable 

 boards of proper size, for permanent preservation. 



Such a collection of well-prepared fish will be useful to the 

 practical naturalist, and illustrate, in a more complete manner to 

 the public, the diversified forms and charactei's of the class of 

 Fishes, which specimens preser\ed in alcohol do not so readily 

 show. 



§ ril. PRESERVING IN LIQUIDS, AND BY OTHER MODES BESIDES 

 SKINNING. 



1. General Remarks. — The best material for preserving 

 animals of modei'ate size is alcohol. Next to this, rum or whisky 

 (the sti'onger the better) may be employed. When spirits can- 

 not be obtjiineLJ, the following substitutes may be used : — 



I. Goadby's Solution. — A. The aluminous fluid, composed 

 of rock s-ilt 4 oz. ; alum 2 oz. ; corrosive sublimate 4 grains; 

 boiling water 2 quarts. B. The saline solution, composed of 

 rock salt 8 oz.; corrosive sublimate 2 grains; boiling water 1 

 quart To be well stin-ed, strained, and cooled. 



II. A strong brine, to be used as hereafter indicated for Goad- 

 by's Solution. 



III. In extreme cases, dr_y salt may be used, as in salting 

 herring, (fee. 



To use Goadby's Solution, the animal should firet be macerated 

 for a few houi-s in fresh water, to which about half its volume of 

 the concentrated solution may then bo added. After soaking 

 thus for some days, the specimens mav be transferred to fresh 

 concentrated solution. When the aluininous fluid is used to 

 preserve vertebrate animals, these should not remain in it for 



more than a few days ; after this, they are to be soaked in fresh 

 water, and transferred to the saline solution. An iiiiraereion of 

 some weeks in the aluminous fluid will cause a destiuction of the 

 bones. Specimens must be kept submerged in these fluids. The 

 success of the operation will depend veiy much upon the use of 

 a weak solution in the fii'st instance, and a change to the satu- 

 rated fluid by one or two intermediate steps. 



The collector should have a small keg, jar, tin box, or other 

 suitable vessel, partially filled with liquor, into which specimens 

 mav be thrown as collected. They should be alive, or as near it 

 as possible when this is done, os besides the speedy and little 

 painful death, the animal will be more apt to keep sound. The 

 entrance of the spirit into the cavities of the body should be 

 facilitated by opening the mouth, making a small incision in the 

 abdomen a half or one inch long, and especially by injecting the 

 liquor into the intestines through the anus, by means of a small 

 syringe. After the animal has soaked for some weeks in this 

 liquor, it should be transferred to fresh. Care should be taken 

 not to crowd the specimens too much, and the slightest taint of 

 putridity should be the signal for the employment of fresh spirits. 

 When it is impossible to transfer specimens to fresh spirits from 

 time to time, the strongest alcohol should be originally used. 



To pack the specimens for transportation, procure a small keg, 

 wdiich has been properl}' swelled by allowing water to stand in 

 it for a day or two, and from this extract the head by knocking 

 off the upper hoops. Great care must be taken to make such 

 marks on the hoops and head, as will assist in their being re- 

 placed in precisely the same relative position to each other and 

 the keg, that they originally held. At the bottom of the keg 

 place a layer of tow moistened in liquor, then one of specimens, 

 then another of tow and another of specimens, and so on alter- 

 nately until the keg is filled. Replace the head, drive down the 

 hoops, and fill completely with spirits, by pouring through the 

 bunghole. Allow it to stand at least half an hour, and then, 

 supplying the deficiency of the liquor, insert the bung, and fasten 

 it securely. An oyster-can or other tin vessel maj* be used to 

 great advantage, in which case the aperture should be soldered 

 up and the vessel inclosed in a box. A glass jar or bottle may 

 also be employed, but there is always a risk of breaking and 

 leaking. In the absence of tow, chopped straw, fine shavings, or 

 dry grass may be substituted. 



It is sometimes necessary to guard against the theft of spirits 

 employed, by individuals to whom the presence of reptiles and 

 fishes in the liquor is no objection. This ma}" be done by adding 

 a small quantity of tartar emetic, ipecacuanha, quassia, or soma 

 other disagreeable substance. The addition of corrosive sublimate 

 will add to the preservative power of the spirit. 



Should the specimens to be packed vary in size, the largest 

 should be placed at the bottom. If the disproportion be very 

 great, the delicate objects at the top must be separated from those 

 below, by means of some immovable partition, which in the event 

 of the vessel being inverted will prevent crushing. The most 

 imperative rule, however, in packing, is to have the vessel per- 

 fectly full of something, any vacancy occupied only by air ex- 

 posing the whole to the risk of loss. In carrying specimens in 

 liquor when travelling, an almost insuperable difficulty is found 

 in preventing rubbing, owing to the necessity of leaving enough 

 space for the addition of specimens. This danger may be 

 obviated by introducing an India-rubber, or oiled silk bag or 

 bladder, provided with a valve, and blowing it up enough to fill 

 the unoccupied .space. 



It often becomes a matter of great importance to separate the 

 specimens of one locality from those of another, in the same 

 vessel. This may be readily done by having a number of small 

 bags made of mosquito net stuff, lino, or other porous m.iterial, 



