MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 681 



Varieties should be always carefully kept, nor 

 should monstrosities or abnormal deviations be dis- 

 regarded. 



Directions for Moist Specimens. 



Flowers, leaves, many fruits, fleshy roots, various 

 parasites, and some Fungi are at times preferably pre- 

 served moist. For this purpose many fluids have at 

 different periods been employed. None is more cer- 

 tain in its effect than alcohol, but it labours under the 

 disadvantage of usually changing the colours to a 

 nearly uniform brown ; it is, nevertheless, the best 

 preservative for subjects kept for minute dissection. 

 Acetic acid, diluted to the density of 1008, answers 

 well for a limited period, as does also sometimes a 

 solution of kreosote. Professor Christison recom- 

 mends a saturated solution of common salt, made 

 with the aid of a boiling heat, as more generally 

 applicable than any other antiseptic, and especially 

 for purposes of transmission it is very serviceable. 

 Pulpy fruits, such as those of the Oitracece, must be 

 immersed in diluted acetic acid. The bottles we 

 have already alluded to will answer exceedingly 

 well for such purposes, or, when the objects are 

 larger, earthen jars, which should have first a cover 

 or stopper of the same material, and then have a 

 piece of thin vulcanized caoutchouc secured over all. 

 In this manner large Orchids, flowering branches of 

 Palms, or the large flowers of the gigantic Victoria 

 regia, may be safely kept. From some trials we 

 have lately made, turpentine seems to answer as a 

 preservative for some delicate Fungi. 



