56 THE AMERICAN NATURALIST. [VoL. XXXVI. 
fastening it in a horizontal position by means of gelatin to the wall 
of the glass box, which is later filled with alcohol. A fish thus suc- 
cessfully prepared appears, to the visitors at least, as a living fish in 
water. Its lifelike appearance is much improved in the proper 
painting of the eye, which is not at all difficult. These water colors 
are durable in alcohol only when they are carefully selected, as has 
been proved by four (now ten) years’ experience. A fish thus com- 
pleted needs no repairing for some time. While in a general way 
this method can be recommended, yet in a few instances it may not 
work, especially when we are dealing with forms that have a bright, 
sparkling appearance, such as goldfishes. In such cases the Wiese- 
liquid seems to promise good results. A large goldfish preserved 
in this liquid for a period of two (now eight) years, though kept in 
the dark, has lost none of its brilliancy and beauty of color. 
' The using of oblong glass boxes is more expensive than glass 
bottles, but when we are dealing with a native fish fauna with com- 
paratively few specimens of considerable size, this evil need not be 
permitted to play a large part. It is a fact that the mechanical pos- 
sibilities of producing sufficiently large glass boxes for an available 
price are limited. The largest glass boxes prepared for this museum 
are 7o cm. long, and cost 24 marks each. Because of this, only the 
smaller specimens of the larger species, such as salmon and catfishes, 
can be easily exhibited. Very large specimens of these can be 
shown along with the smaller ones, either as mounted specimens or 
plaster casts, or they may be exhibited in glass boxes, made of glass 
plates cemented together. 
The German marine exhibit in 1896 afforded me an opportunity to dem- 
onstrate the fact that these glass boxes with their contents could be easily 
transported from one place to another. Besides some small ones, the 
large glass boxes containing the salmon and the lamprey were taken from 
Hamburg to Berlin and returned in fine condition. The transportation was 
by boat on the Elbe, but, being taken to and from the boat by wagon, they 
were subject to considerable jarring. 
The task of putting up one of the above-mentioned fishes may be 
divided into three parts: (1) preparation and preservation ; (2) paint- 
ing ; and (3) setting up in the glass boxes. 
(1) As the fish must be presented in a swimming position in the 
glass box with parallel walls, it must be preserved as perfectly as 
possible. In selecting a specimen one must pay special attention to 
form, color, proper size. Most of the fishes found in the markets 
are iex about the munde fins, or scales. Pretty badly injured 

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