or SPECIMENS. 267 



laid, filling up all hollows, and so pressing the whole 

 when the box was shut, as to prevent any motion of 

 the stones. The specimens arrived in the best condi- 

 tion, even the delicate Delesserim being uninjured. 



Many animals may be forwarded in the same way. 

 The Mollusca, many of the Echinodermata, several of 

 the Crustacea, and all the Actiniae are transmitted 

 with more ease and less danger thus than in water. A 

 handful of loose weed, wet with sea-water, to keep a 

 moist atmosphere around them, may be thrown into 

 a canister or jar, and the animals placed in among 

 it. The vessel should not be filled, nor should any 

 pressure be allowed on the animals ; the weed too, 

 though fresh, must be plucked, as pieces of rock 

 ■would be injurious to the more tender animals. 



Fishes, however, many Crustacea, most of the 

 Annelida, all Medusae, and the more delicate Zoo- 

 phytes, req[uire to be sent in sea-water. I sometimes 

 used wide-mouthed jars of stone-ware, with water- 

 tight screwed tops, several of which may be packed in 

 a hamper ; at other times a large 12 gallon zinc pail, 

 protected by a wicker case, with a screw lid, of which 

 the central part was perforated with minute holes ; at 

 others, four small zinc cans, of square form, with 

 perforate tops, fitted into an open box, like case- 

 bottles in a wine-hamper. All of these modes answer 

 well; I know not to which I should give the prefer- 

 ence ; except that for Fishes the large pail is decidedly 

 the best. If heavy stones or oyster-shells, very rich 

 in Zoophytes and Annelides, be required, a common 

 cabbage-net may be suspended from the lid of the pail 

 in mid-water ; the stones or shells, being put into this 



