ANEMONES, CORALS, STARFISH 375 



water. Wash it well in several changes of water to 

 remove the corrosive, and then transfer gradually from 

 very weak alcohol to 70 per cent, alcohol. 



Bolina dissolves up at once in formalin. The best 

 results are obtained by killing quickly with Flem- 

 ming's solution, and selecting quite small specimens. 

 Leave them in the solution for about half an hour, 

 wash slightly in water, and transfer very gradually 

 from very weak alcohol to 70 per cent, alcohol. 



Flemming's solution is about the best killing and 

 fixing solution for Ctenoptoores. 



Anemones and Corals are amongst the most difficult 

 of marine animals to preserve in an expanded state. 

 For ordinary sea anemones, formalin, followed by 

 formalin-spirit, is preferred. The method which is 

 most often successful is to anaesthetize with menthol 

 (p. 361) ; the process usually takes from twelve to 

 twenty-four hours. When the creatures no longer 

 react when touched, plunge them suddenly into for- 

 malin or formalin-spirit (see p. 356), or into hot 

 corrosive sublimate, any one of which preserving fluids 

 gives good results. 



For " corals," such as Caryophyllia, Alcyonium, and 

 Gorgonia, use hot corrosive sublimate after the menthol, 

 or 5 per cent, formalin followed by cold saturated 

 corrosive sublimate. But a plunge into 90 per cent, 

 spirit, not allowed to get weaker than 70 per cent., 

 has given fair results for anatomical work. 



Starfishes. — Specimens required to show only external 

 features may be preserved in 70 per cent, alcohol 

 or in formalin. They retain their natural shape better 

 if they are put for two or three minutes into fresh 

 water before being placed in the preserving fluid. If 

 the internal anatomy is to be studied, an incision should 

 be made along the length of each arm, so as to allow 



