88 TEE TAXIDERMIST V GUIDE. 



sufficient length to reach the bottom. It is firmly screwed to the 

 handle. A net is attached to the triangle either of twine or hair- 

 cloth. The point of the triangle should be sharp, so that it may 

 the more easily penetrate the mud, and it is drawn through it in 

 situations where shells are supposed to exist. 



Marine Shells.— These are to be found in all seas ; some of 

 them inhabit rocks on the shore within high-water mark : others 

 reside in deep water, and can only be taken by dredging, or by 

 the use of a kind of net called in France the Gangui, and an in- 

 strument called the Rake has also been successfully used. 



Different species of sea-weed are frequently covered by minute 

 shells, — weeds should always be carefully examined. Many of 

 the smaller and microscopic shells are found at high-water mark 

 among the fine dross and drifted fragments of shells ; this sand 

 should be brought home and examined at leisure. To facilitate 

 the process, a small wire-cloth sieve should be made, of about six 

 or seven inches square, and all the sand sifted through it, and the 

 shells left. 



MOLLUSCOUS ANIMALS. 



Many upecies of worms, and other soft invertebrate animals, 

 are to be caught also by the dredge. There is no way of preserv- 

 ing these animals except by putting them in spirits. Animals of 

 this kind are still very imperfectly known, notwithstanding the 

 researches of Lamarck, Poli, and other celebrated naturalists. 

 Every opportunity should, therefore, be embraced of bringing 

 them home; indeed, we are still little acquainted with those 

 which inhabit our own seas. 



When animals of this kind are procured in foreign parts, a 

 careful noting of the latitude should be taken ; and it should be 

 stated whether they live singly or are congregated, if they arc 

 phosphorescent, and if they were taken in deep water. And as 

 these animals are very liable to lose their colors by being put in 

 spirits, a careful noting of these should be taken whenever they 

 are caught, as the colors are very evanescent ; or, what would 

 be still better, a drawing of the animal should be made. 



Intestinal Worms. — Whenever we have killed either a quad- 

 ruped, bird, or fish, we should carefully examine the stomach 

 and intestinal canal of the animal, to sec if there are any worms; 



