1837.] 



and Preserving Animals. 



185 



Of the methods of catching and preserving animals. — All animals 

 are naturally wild, and in many instances it requires considerable art 

 to catch them. The more perfect animals, which have much progres- 

 sive motion, require to be taken by means which generally produce 

 some degree of injury to their different parts, and often to their 

 external form; this injury will be in proportion to the difficulty and 

 mode of capture. 



Quadrupeds are in general either caught in traps or shot, and 

 consequently some parts of the body are injured; but this is unavoida- 

 ble. Birds are usually shot, to the injury of their plumage and often 

 of their internal structure^ 



Snakes, Lizards, and indeed Reptiles in general, are commonly 

 caught without being previously wounded, and therefore sutfer less in 

 their external form than birds ; but even these may be considerably 

 damaged if care be not taken, for as they are generally caught in the 

 breeding-season, it is very possible that the organs of generation, and. 

 the parts contained in them, as eggs, &c, may be crushed; it is there- 

 fore proper to seize them by the neck, and immediately to immerse 

 them in spirit, so as to drown them, or to keep them in a bag until 

 spirit* can be procured. 



Turtles, Crocodiles, Fishes, Crustaceans, and Insects are liable to 

 little or no injury to their form or structure from the mode of capture. 



The softer animals, most of which inhabit the sea, suffer very little 

 from the manner of catching them ; but as their shape and size admit 

 of considerable variation, their form may be much altered from the 

 manner in which they die. Animals without internal hard parts to 

 determine their shape or locomotion, yet having a considerable quan- 

 tity of muscular contraction, vary their shape according to circum- 

 stances; of this kind are the Sea Anemones (Actiniae), Priapi or 

 Holothuricc, Shell-fish, Slugs, Medusae, &c. : these should be allowed 

 to die gradually in the water they are accustomed to ; by which means 

 they die in a relaxed state, and display more of their natural external 

 form: but it is desirable to have specimens in the different degrees 

 of expansion or contraction. When dead they are immediately to 

 be put into spirit, for fear of putrefaction, which otherwise rapidly 

 takes place. 



A sketch or drawing of Molluscous or other animals of which the 

 form and colour are materially altered by death or when put into 

 spirit, will greatly assist in rendering a description more intelligible. 

 The admeasurements, also, of an animal where parts only are preserved, 

 are very necessary ; and the sex should be noted where it is not obvious 

 from the parts preserved. 



* Colourless alcoholic spirit rather above proof is the most fit, 



