ZOOLOGY. 



275 



saw-dust, bran, or fine sand, so that all the interstices be- 

 tween the shells be filled up to prevent their rubbing one 

 against the other, besides this precaution they require no 

 other care. 



A considerable variety of shells are fit for the cabinet, as 

 soon as the animal is removed, possessing an extremely high 

 natural polish when fished up, others are covered with an 

 epidermis, which it is necessary to remove, to have a view of 

 their colours, in some this is scabrous, laminated, or fibrous, 

 in others it has the appearance of a fine close pile, like velvet; 

 some kinds when taken, are covered with extraneous sub- 

 stances, as coralines, fuci, &c. ; to remove these, the shells 

 should be steeped in hot water, and suffered to remain there- 

 in for twenty-four hours, frequently adding boiling water 

 thereto ; when taken out they should be cleansed with a 

 brush, but if the substances still adhere, the shells may be 

 placed in some diluted acid, which will generally remove all 

 adhering substances, the preparation should not exceed 

 one eight part of Muriatic acid mixed with water, and it 

 will be necessary to observe that this does not act upon any 

 part of the shell, but that requisite to be cleared, as the sub- 

 stance of ail shells being calcareous, the action of the acid 

 is injurious, and no acid should be used but in cases of 

 necessity. 



To remove the epidermis, the above named mixture will 

 be found etfective, it should be poured into a shallow saucer 

 or plate, so that only a small part of the shell is acted on at 

 one time, the shell should not be suffered to remain in it 

 but a minute or two at most, without examination ; it should 

 then be taken out and put into cold water; and the surface 

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