1837.] 



and Preserving Animals. 



191 



Lobsters, Crawfish, Crabs, Beetles, may be put into a bottle all toge_ 

 ther ; or if each order be kept separate, yet several specimens may be 

 kept together. 



Butterflies, Moths, Bees, should be kept by themselves ; for if put 

 into the same bottle with the above, they would be injured. 



Of Eggs. — To preserve the eggs of Birds with their nests, each nest 

 should be put into a round box just large enough to contain it. After 

 having made a small perforation at each end of the eggs, and expelled 

 their contents, some cotton should be laid upon them to keep them from 

 being moved about, and the whole covered with the lid. 



Large eggs, as those of the Ostritch and Cassowary, at different peri- 

 ods of incubation, should be preserved in spirit. 



The eggs of Turtles, Lizards, Crocodiles, Snakes, &c, should be col- 

 lected, and similarly preserved at different periods after being deposited, 

 until the foetus be excluded. 



A perforation should be made at each end of the egg, by which the 

 spirit will have access to the inside, and the contents be more effectual- 

 ly preserved. 



The eggs of all sorts of insects should be preserved in spirit for the 

 same purpose. 



Various observations on the means of preserving Animals. 



An animal of the firmest kind, in a temperate climate, will generally 

 require a quantity of prooT spirit nearly equal to its own weight, to pre- 

 serve it from putrefaction. 



Animals of the mixed kind, neither hard nor soft, such as many of the 

 soft fishes, require rather more spirit than their own weight. 



Soft or watery animals, such as many molluscous and other sea 

 animals, require rectified spirit, and nearly the same quantity as the 

 above. But these are relative circumstances, which will vary according 

 to the climate, and the state of the animal at the time. If the climate 

 be very hot, and the animals are to be kept in that climate for some 

 time, or if the parts are not very fresh, more spirit will be required. 



This proportion of spirit should be particularly attended to when 

 parts are large; for a very small animal or part will generally have 

 more spirit added to it than what is here directed, while a large animal 

 or part obtains less. 



Animals which I call firm are those of the Quadruped kind, as rats, 

 mice, &c. ; and indeed snakes, lizards, and all insects (as far as respects 

 the quantity of spirit) may be considered in the same class. 



In the mixed kind I would include most sorts of fish ; however, there 

 are many fish that may be included with the first. 



Of the watery or pulpy kind, I reckon Sepia?, Medusa?, Echini, Star- 

 fish, and likewise all those that appear to be gelatinous, for their inter- 

 nal structure is extremely tender. 



