no THE SHORE 



and gimp of varied sizes, to be fitted out as required 

 in different places. 



The naturalist will be guided by his own inclinations 

 as to whether he carries with him dissecting instru- 

 ments. He will certainly require two pairs of ordinary 

 coarse forceps, one of which he will be well advised to 

 attach to his belt. A good sheath knife in his belt 

 (cost with sheath 2s. 6d.) is advisable. A satchel is 

 necessary, and should have two pockets, one for full 

 and one for empty tubes ; two of the ordinary white 

 soldiers' knapsacks will do as well, and perhaps be more 

 convenient ; these will cost 5s. or less, but the natur- 

 alist will satisfy himself better in the end by making 

 his own bag from a length of canvas to suit the idio- 

 syncrasies which he is bound to develop. A couple of 

 common galvanized buckets are as good as anything 

 for the larger specimens of the catch, while an enamelled 

 billy (a pot with a lid and swing handle over same) will 

 serve for more delicate beasts ; glass tubes, of course, 

 also being carried. Enamelled basins serve for sorting 

 the catch, aided by ordinary plates, pie-dishes, and 

 everything of a similar nature that can be found. Two 

 basins and half a dozen plates will be sufficient, as a 

 general rule, for a good day's catch. 



The alcohol used for preservation should be pure 

 spirit, not methylated in any way. It is bought as 

 96 per cent, spirit, and is obtained best from the 

 Colonial Sugar Refining Company, Sydney, N.S.W., 

 costing 2s. per gallon. It is also distilled in Mauritius, 

 Java, and many places in the West Indies, but prices 

 of 3s. to 4s. are frequently asked, and a stock is not 

 kept. It may, perhaps, as well be purchased from 

 some reliable English house (2s, 6d. per gallon, 10-gallon 

 drums, 10s., returnable), who will see that it is shipped. 

 Formic aldehyde (see p. 347) will also be required ; it 



