Asterias and Crustacea. 1849 



ceed eighteen inches in depth ; one may be made of best twine, with meshes half an 

 inch apart, and another of cheese-cloth or serge for fine work ; but perhaps I cannot 

 do better than state the results of conversation I had on this subject with J. S. Bower- 

 bank, Esq., of London, and Lieutenant Thomas, E.N., at a recent meeting of the 

 Berwickshire Naturalists' Club. 



The strength of the rope required for Ball's dredge must be regulated entirely by 

 the depth at which it is employed, in all cases a 141b. weight should be attached to 

 the rope, six inches distant from the dredge. A raw hide, such as has been imported 

 as a wrapper for bales of tobacco or tallow, and which may be purchased in London for 

 eighteen pence, will make three bags of the most durable and efficient description, and 

 they should have holes a quarter of an inch in diameter, cut with a punch or simply 

 stabbed with a knife, to facilitate the discharge of the water, and to save the trouble 

 of canting the bag after it is drawn up from the water, there should be a slit five 

 inches in length cut in the bottom and laced with a thong. A man and a boy (or two 

 men and a boy, I forget which) are able to manage the whole apparatus. 



A boat's grapnel and a cabbage-net will form a useful implement in case of need. 



Two or three moderate sized sieves are required for sifting mud and sand, the 

 height of the sieves may be four or five inches, and the meshes of their copper or 

 brass wire bottoms should be one-tenth of an inch apart ; by attaching three strings, 

 which are held in the hand, the more valuable contents of the sieve are readily exposed 

 by repeated dippings in the water. 



Perhaps I may be allowed to suggest that the skin of a sheep, which may be pur- 

 chased for fourteen pence or thereby, after the wool is shorn off, will form a pretty 

 good substitute for a hide. In the Appendix to Messrs. Tulk and Henfrey's 

 * Anatomical Manipulation,' there are some excellent notes on dredging by Professor 

 Edward Forbes, which the Editor may transcribe, if he thinks proper. — Archibald 

 Hepburn ; Whittih'gham, June \4th y 1847. 



Notes on the Preparation of Specimens of Asterias and Crustacea. — To Mr. Bow- 

 erbank, I am indebted for these useful notes, which cannot be too widely known 

 to naturalists, and it is on this account, that I trust, Mr. B. will pardon the liberty 

 taken in giving them publicity. 



Fasten two or three threads to the arms of Asterias and plunge them suddenly into 

 boiling water. The magnificent Asterias papposa, which I have obtained over seven 

 inches in diameter from our coast, should have a bath for four minutes. Asterias gla- 

 cialis, the common species, for three minutes, and the little Pinnoteras or pea crabs 

 found in Modiola vulgaris for two minutes ; they are then dried in a draft. 



The larger Crustacea should be allowed to steep in fresh water till their flesh be- 

 comes putrid and fluid ; the specimen is then suspended or laid in different positions 

 until the contents of its shell shall have run off, and after being dried in a draft, it is 

 fit for the cabinet. — Archibald Hepburn ; Whittingham, June 14th, 1847. 



