[11] COLLECTING REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS — STFJNEGER. 



scissors to allow the fluid to enter; by this process snakes sliould be 

 cut open in several places along the middle of the under side across the 

 wide ventral plates, the so-called gastrosteges. Should a large lump 

 indicate that a snake contains food not yet digested, the belly should 

 be opened and the contents of the alimentary canal removed — or pre- 

 served separately, if desired. 



Before placing turtles in alcohol head and feet should be drawn out 

 from the shell, the mouth should be opened, and a small piece of wood 

 placed between the jaws so as to prevent the mouth from closing. If 

 the mouths of lizards, snakes, salamanders, and frogs can be kept open 

 without injuring their teeth so much the better, as some of the most 

 important systematic characters are derived from the dentition and the 

 shape of the tongue, and it is very difficult to open the mouths of spec- 

 imens which have become hardened in alcohol. A wad of cotton or 

 paper may be found useful for this purpose. 



The sj^ecimen is now ready to be placed in alcohol., the only really 

 effective and reliable preserving fluid. When starting out the collector 

 should provide himself with alcohol of about 95 per cent strength, but 

 he should not use alcohol of this strength. The full strength alcohol 

 should be kept in stock in the large tank, while the specimens them- 

 selves are kept in the smaller tank in alcohol of about 75 per cent. 

 But the best result will be obtained, if the collector has opportunity to 

 put his specimens in still weaker alcohol during the first 24 hours, so 

 as to allow the preservative fluid to penetrate the tissues thoroughly 

 before placing them in the 75 i)er cent alcohol. It should also be 

 remembered that this strength only applies to reptiles, as 50 to 60 per 

 cent alcohol will do better for batrachians, which are apt to shrivel up 

 entirely in too strong alcohol. 



If the specimens can remain undisturbed in. the same place for some 

 time no further precautions are necessary, but if the collector is travel- 

 ing all the time each specimen should be placed separately in one of 

 the cheese-cloth bags, so as to prevent it from being rubbed during 

 transportation. However, quite a number of smooth-skinned speci- 

 mens, or such with scales which do not come oft' easily or are provided 

 with spines, may be accommodated in one bag. In default of bags they 

 may be wrapped in cheese cloth, mosquito netting, or any other suitable 

 material at hand. 



Specimens brought home alive may be sent to the museum in that 

 condition, if the prospects for their safe arrival are favorable. This 

 will be found especially practicable with turtles, which can usually be 

 kept a long time without food. If the specimens, however, are to be 

 killed this can best be done by drowning them in strong alcohol. For 

 that purpose they should be i3laced in an empty vessel and the alcohol 

 poured into it through a narrow opening. The vessel should be so full 

 as to exclude every particle of air from it and then be covered up to 

 prevent the animal from breathing. Even with these precautions some 

 kinds require a long immersion before they die. 



