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Parasites may be found on the fur or feathers of live mam- 

 mals and birds, or attached to reptiles and fish. Internal para- 

 sites (particularly desired) live iu the liver, stomach, intestines, 

 or other organs of animals. 



Plants are best preserved by drying. The apparatus for 

 drying flowering plants, ferns, and mosses consists of a few 

 smoothly-planed boards, newspapers, and coarse, stout, unsized 

 paper, or blotting-paper. Upon one of the boards place a few 

 folds of newspaper, a sheet of drying paper, on which the 

 plants are to be carefully laid out, then another sheet of 

 drying paper, and again more folds of paper, and so on. The 

 number of sheets of paper to be placed between each sheet of 

 plants will depend on the one hand, on the thickness and 

 humidity of the specimens ; on the other hand, on the quantity 

 and quality of the paper one has at command. On the top 

 sheet place a board, and upon that stones, bricks, or other 

 weights, from 20 lbs. upwards, according to the consistency of 

 the specimens. It is useful, also, to have extra boards or paste- 

 boards the size of the paper, to separate thick plants from thin 

 ones, wet ones from those nearly dry, &c. Another day's col- 

 lection may be arranged in the same way on the top board, and 

 another board used aud the weights replaced. After a few 

 days the specimens should be shifted into fresh sheets, and 

 pressure continued until all their moisture is dissipated Care 

 must be taken that the paper used is well dried. In dry 

 weather, and by the use of coarse, stout paper, the majority of 

 plants require only one shifting. Succulent plants may be 

 dipped in boiling water all but the flowers, preparatory to 

 drying. Heaths and other plants which are apt to shed their 

 leaves during drying may be treated in the same manner. 

 Thick stems should be pared down. 



Plants for preservation should be carefully selected, so as to 

 show the various parts proper to them, not only in flower, but 

 in fruit (both young and mature). Small plants should be 

 gathered with their roots ; the root-leaves of larger herbs 

 should be secured, and others may be cut or folded into 

 requisite lengths. Plants may be gathered into a tin box ; but 

 better suited for this climate is a portable collecting and drying 

 apparatus, which consists of sheets of stiff paper, 14 inches by 

 9 inches, or more, separately folded between boards, or open 

 wooden frames, with crossbars, connected by straps towards 

 the ends, and having a third passing lengthwise around. The 

 portfolio is a little bulkier and heavier to carry than the col- 

 iecting-box, but its advantages are much greater, and its 

 employment is imperative in the case of plants whose flowers 

 close or wither soon after gathering ; and though it is advisable 

 to transfer the plants from it to the ordinary drying press on 



