260 Transactions.— Zoology. 
plan to have vessels of various sizes, so as not to use more of the fluid than 
is absolutely necessary. I find that a small pudding basin, a vegetable 
dish, a soup tureen, and an earthenware foot-bath, or ‘tongue pan,” form 
a very useful series of vessels. If earthenware vessels of sufficient size 
cannot be had, tin, zine, or galvanized iron may be used; but then fluid B 
must be employed, and not A. 
After remaining in the glycerine fluid for about three to seven days, 
according to size and density, the specimen is transferred to melted 
glycerine jelly, made in one of the following ways :— 
GuxczRine Jey, A. GiycEeRIne JELLY, B. i 
i ies 2 aie 
Glycerine .. =... 1 Titre, Glycerine 
Water ze an si Water... 4 ta perme: Ses 
Gelatine ., a ..150 grms. Gelatine os oe ..150 grms. 
Corrosive sublimate a a Concentrated solution of 
Z Obes ae 
Phen ++ 50 
Either of these fluids may of course be made by removing the specimen 
from the glycerine fluid, dissolving in the latter the requisite quantity of 
gelatine, and when the jelly is of the right temperature, replacing the 
specimen. It is not well to have much alum present, as it tends to stiffen 
the jelly. I generally use gelatine-glue instead of pure gelatine, for the sake 
of cheapness. Even common glue will answer the purpose, the chief dis- 
advantage attending its use being the darker colour of the specimens. 
The jelly must be kept at a temperature just sufficient to retain it in the 
fluid condition (about 40° C.); for this purpose it is best to use a water- 
bath. The specimen is retained in it from two to four days, so as to get it 
thoroughly permeated with glycerine jelly. 
After removal from the jelly the specimen is thoroughly drained and 
placed in a dry room on a sort of trellis-work tray, made by stretching pieces 
of tape across a wooden frame: this allows of exposure to the air on 
sides. The drying-room should be kept shut up as far as possible, so as to 
keep dust from the sticky surface of the specimen. Such cartilages as the 
shoulder-girdles and jaws of Elasmobranchs, which are strongly eurved and 
of considerable thickness, should be fastened in position during drying by 
strappings of tape, wooden supports, ete., as otherwise the small - 
inevitable shrinking which takes place will canse a certain amount of dis- 
tortion, and prevent accurate fitting when the whole skeleton is mounted. 
The gill-arches should be very carefully fixed out in their natural position 
before drying. 
O¥8 ents. Tl 
Wi J 
ilaci Dad obese tina Siac ts 1 for the Dunedin 
Museum Carcharodon, a young male about 10 feet long, Cestracion, Raja, 
and Trygon, as well as skulls of Petromyzon, Alopecias, and Acanthias. 42° 
first of these was prepared with an insufficient amount of gelatine and : 
