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THE AMERICAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXXVII. 



alcohol or in sterilized water. In the latter case, the glass tubes 

 are immediately sealed with melted paraffin, which acts both as 

 a cork and as an isolating medium. Larger leaves are best pre- 

 served in a mixture of 2 parts of glycerine, 1 part carbolic acid, 

 and 7 parts water. Remains of delicate mosses and small leaves, 

 parasitic fungi, and alga' should be preserved in Canada balsam 

 like ordinary microscopic preparations. 



Andersson recommends another plan of preserving, which has 

 its advantages. After being dehydrated in alcohol, the fossils 

 are transferred to a 30 per cent', solution of benzin-alcohol, 

 thence to a 70 per cent, solution, afterwards, to pure benzin, and 

 subsequently to a saturated solution of naphthalin in benzin. 

 The fossils are kept here for some time, until the fluid has well 

 penetrated. W hen the objects are drying the benzin evaporates, 

 and the surface is covered with small crystals of naphthalin. 



