[ 19 3 



and fmall tortoifes, with fea eggs (&), and fea 

 flars, may be put into brandy, rum, arrack, or 

 firft runnings, with the addition of a little 

 alum 



Shells eonftitute an extenfive part of natural 

 hiftory, and may be collected in great plenty 

 and variety on the fhores of moft iflands and 

 continents. Thoie which are found with the 

 fifh in them, are the moil valuable for the 

 brightnefs of color, and fmodthnefs of furface, 

 as they lofe that beauty and polifh, when they 

 have been long expofed to the fun. In bivalves^ 

 or thofe having double fhells, as cockles, oyftersj 

 &c. both the fhells mould always be collected. 

 It is fufficient in packing up fhells, to prevent 



they acquire fuch a degree of putrefaction* that the fkiri 

 lofes its cohefion to the body of the filh, it may be Aid off 

 almoft like a glove ; the two fides of this fkin may then be 

 dried upon paper like a plant, or one of the fides may be 

 filled with plafter of Paris, to give the fubje£t a due plump- 

 hefs. Vid. Amsen. Acad. Vol. III. A fifh may be prepared* 

 after it has acquired this degree of putrefaction, by mak- 

 ing a longitudinal incilion on the belly, and carefully 

 dirTe£ting the flefhy parts from the fkin* which are but 

 flightly attached to it in confequence of the putrcfcency ; 

 the fkin is then to be filled with cotton and the antifeptic 

 powder as dire&ed for birds, and lalUy* to be fewed up 

 where the incifion was made. 



After this method of preparation I have juft received a 

 filh from the Well: Indies; and the large collection in the 

 Prince's cabinet at Bruffels, there is reafon to conclude was 

 prepared in a fimilar manner. 



{k) The echini or fea eggs, may alfo be dried ; but they 

 are then fo liable to be broken, that the fafeft method is 10 

 prefer ve them in fpirit. 



Horret capillisj ut marinus, afperis* 

 Echinus. Hor. Epod. V. 27. 



their 



