MOLLUSKS 



55 



Mollusks are easily prepared for museum specimens. In small 

 kinds the animal can be allowed to dry up without harming 

 the shell or causing a smell. Larger specimens should be dipped 

 in boiling water for a couple of minutes, when the animal can 

 be extracted with a bent pin or piece of wire. 



Fig. 38. — A clam. 



Most cephalopods and slugs are mollusks without shells, and 

 should be preserved in 80 percent alcohol. It is well to change this 

 two or three times so that it may not become too diluted by 

 the extraction of water from the specimen, which might cause 

 it to spoil. In these changes, 10 times as much alcohol should 

 be used as the bulk of the specimen. After the changes indicated 



