PRESERVATIVE FLTJIDS FOE FISHES AND REPTILES. 79 



or rectified spirits of wine (56 per cent, over-proof) be the only 

 tHng used for fishes, for permanent preservation in glass jars 

 or tanks, and this even for ordinary fishes 3ft. to 4ft. in length, 

 or even up to 6ft. in length, if eel-like. " Proof " spirit (con- 

 taining only 49 per cent, by weight of pure alcohol as against 

 84 per cent, contained in rectified spirit) is, says Dr. Giinther, 

 the lowest strength which can be used. 

 These will then stand as 



No. 19. — Rectified Spirits of Wine (56 per cent over-proof), 



^^^ No. 20.— Proof Spirits of Wine. 



If a spirituous solution is absolutely required, I would substi- 

 tute for pure spirits of wine methylated spirit (alcohol con- 

 taining a certain percentage of impure gum or undrinkable 

 wood spirit) as being cheap and sufficiently good for some 

 purposes. It will not, however, bear any diluting with water; it 

 must stand, therefore, as 



No. 21. — Methylated Spirit (undiluted), 



or as 



No. 22. — Alcoholic Solution, No. 1. 



Methylated spirit, 1^ pints. I Burnt alum (pounded), 2oz. 



Distilled water, i pint. | Saltpetre, 4oz. 



This, which is to be well shaken together, becomes milky at 

 first, but will soon fine down, and may then be decanted. 



No. 23. — Alcoholic Solution, No. 2. 



Methylated spirit, 3 parts. | Glycerine, 1 part. 



Distilled water, 1 part. 



Although turpentine will not preserve reptiles or fishes, yet, 

 struck with the perfect manner with which I was enabled to 

 preserve soft-bodied beetles for nearly a year in benzol or benzo- 

 line, I lately tried if this cheap and colourless liquid would be 

 of service for other subjects, with the result that I have now 

 some frogs (six or seven) in a glass jar containing benzoline 

 which have been immersed for over three months, and have 

 apparently undergone less change than if in spirits for the same 

 length of time. Whether they are likely to be permanently 

 preserved by this method I cannot, of course, yet determine, but 

 if so, it would be a great gain, owing to the brilliancy of the 

 liquid, its cheapness, and its advantages over all alcoholic spirit 



