366 PRESERVATION OF MARINE ORGANISMS 



stead of a cork, and they are at once placed into a 

 wide-mouthed glass jar, filled with the same fluid as 

 in the tubes. It is an excellent system for collecting 

 expeditions, as the small tubes are safe inside the 

 large jars, and are quickly packed. It is advisable to 

 place a layer of wool at the bottom of the jar, a little 

 between the tubes, and some on the top. This will 

 prevent the tubes from rattling about inside the jar, 

 and reduce the risk of breakage. The large jar must 

 be filled to the brim with fluid, so that all the tubes are 

 properly immersed. 



Damage done by Air Bubbles in Tubes and Bottles. — 

 Although great care is sometimes taken in preserving 

 specimens, yet no care is taken in properly storing 

 them for travelling. There is nothing more disastrous 

 to delicate animals than an air bubble rolling up and 

 down a narrow tube, or a large air-space in a bottle 

 which is subject to the rolling of a ship or the shaking 

 of a railway train. There is not the slightest difficulty 

 in filling a bottle with fluid up to the bottom of the 

 stopper, but narrow glass tubes require special treat- 

 ment. Fill the tube to the brim with the preserving 

 fluid, and insert a tight-fitting plug of absorbent 

 cotton-wool, which should have been previously soaked 

 in the same fluid. After a little practice it is quite 

 easy to insert the plug without introducing an air 

 bubble. The tubes can either be stored in a large 

 glass jar, filled with the preserving fluid, or corked 

 and sealed with paraffin wax. 



Labels. — Those who are contemplating an extensive 

 collecting expedition should provide themselves with 

 proper labels, made of good paper, upon which, at least, 

 should be printed : " Date," " Number," " Locality," 

 " Preservation." The best and safest place for a label 

 is no doubt inside the bottle, and as the label will be in 



