ZOOLOGY, 



271 



Of the various genera comprising the class Vermes^ but 

 very few, compared with the whole, are convertible to the 

 use of, and many of them are injurious to Mankind ; of those 

 applicable to our uses, some are consumed as food, the coats 

 or shells of others are manufactured into articles of domestic 

 use or ornament ; some are used medicinally, and a few 

 alford good dyes. 



The various genera in the first and second orders, are only 

 to be preserved in spiritous preparations, with the exception, 

 of the crustaceous ones, as the AsteriagjEchina, and Medusae ; 

 the mixture may be formed of one third pure colourless 

 Spirit, and two thirds of solution of Burnt Allum ; prepared 

 as directed at page 153. The animals are instantly killed 

 by emersion in pure spirit ; and may then be placed in 

 glasses or jars, with some number or mark of reference 

 affixed ; the shelled or crustaceous kinds, as soon as destroy- 

 ed, should have the contents of their sliells extracted, with 

 some sharp-pointed instrument, care being taken not to in- 

 jure any of the spines or apendages ; the common mode prac- 

 tised by fishermen on the British coasts, is to plunge the 

 animals into boiling water, but this method in most cases 

 entirely destroys their natural colour ; when the shells are 

 emptied, they may be laid for some time in fresh water, to 

 cleanse them from any impurities ; and then gradually dryed 

 in the shade. The thin flexible species, as many of the Star- 

 fish, when cleaned and washed, may be dryed between paper, 

 and kept flat, should any of them in drying become curled, 

 they may be restored to their proper or natural forms, by 

 emersing them in cold fresh water, or wrapping them in wet 

 cloths till they become flexile, when their proper attitudes 

 may be recovered. 



