138 CRUISE OF THE BARRERA 



in cheesecloth were consigned to the alcohol 

 tanks, the last bottles sealed, the remaining snakes, 

 lizards, and fish were injected with formalin and 

 stowed away. The actinians and medusas from 

 the Estero, having received their bath of magne- 

 sium sulphate and cocaine, started on their pro- 

 gressive course through the various alcohols. The 

 last of the material from the Azucar expedition 

 was finally disposed of, and the satisfaction of 

 having caught up with our work rested joyfully 

 upon us. Only Gill with his paints and brushes 

 toiled on, for his task was, in the very nature of 

 things, never-ending. What a luxury it would be 

 upon a collecting expedition to have along a corps 

 of well-trained preparators to do nothing but look 

 after the catch! With collectors constantly at 

 work, the material multiplies very rapidly and 

 for satisfactory results the specimens require im- 

 mediate attention when brought aboard. Half 

 the value of a catch depends upon quick and 

 skillful treatment, while many groups of ma- 

 rine creatures brought in are lost if not put 

 through an immediate process of killing, ex- 

 panding, and final baths in alcohol. The field 

 parties usually return to the ship tired, longing 



