510 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 271 



If the amphipod species is dimorphic, a slide of antennae, gnath- 

 opods, and uropod 3 of the other sex should be prepared for rapid 

 identification; but a full dissection should be prepared for descriptive 

 purposes. 



Parts of greatly differing thickness should not be intermingled 

 on the same slide as the thinner parts ^nll not be properly fitted 

 by the cover slip. Delicate parts may need artificial support of the 

 cover slip as noted above in discussion of the mandibles. Dirt may 

 be removed from heavily setose appendages by use of a fine camel's- 

 hair brush. 



Eventually the student will gain sufficient experience for examination 

 of most parts without dissection. Even mouthparts can be partially 

 to fully examined by careful manipulation under a fine stereoscope 

 with adequate 2-directional light sources. Mandibles often can be 

 rotated for viewing molars without their complete removal. This 

 protects unique specimens from unnecessary damage or Joss of parts, 

 or the need to mount parts permanently. 



The taxonomist anticipating a need to illustrate the organism will 

 leave the telson and the left first coxa attached to the carcass so that 

 a full lateral view of the amphipod is preserved. The telson can be 

 removed for flat mounting after the lateral view is drawn. Usually 

 the left legs distal to their coxae are removed and mounted. The 

 lateral in toto drawing represents a composite reconstruction of body 

 and coxae drawn first, with legs superimposed on the drawing by use 

 of a microprojector or camera lucida in which degree of magnification 

 can be replicated. In this way legs are attached to the body drawing 

 in perfectly flat but somewhat imnatural condition. One must deter- 

 mine accurately the attachment loci of the legs to their coxae by 

 study of the proposed slides 5 and 6 noted below. Generally, it is 

 preferable to make slides of the following composition if illustrations 

 are to be made. 



1. Depression slide with carcass. 



2. Mandible, maxilliped, lower lip, with support for cover slip. 



3. MaxiUae, 1, 2. 



4. Antennae 1, 2, with support for cover slip to allow rotation and 

 examination of all surfaces by movement of cover slip. 



5. Gnathopod 2, if especially thick. 



6. Gnathopod 1 and pereopods 1-5. 



7. Pleopods 1-3. 



8. Uropods 1-3, with support for cover slip to allow rotation of parts. 



9. Telson (removed from carcass after lateral illustration). 



10. Upper lip and epistome (removed from carcass after lateral 

 illustration). 



11. Left legs, except for their coxae. 



