^CnlluSTiml Mounting Eniomostraca. 269 
lY. — On Collecting and Mounting Entomostraca. 
By J. G. Tatem * 
In this paper I propose, as shortly as possible, describing the 
methods employed by our late friend and member, Mr. Clayton, in 
collecting and preparing Entomostraca for microscopic examination, 
and it must be a matter of sincere regret to every one of us, that 
he has not survived to make the promised communication, and 
gratify that eager curiosity, which the neatness and brilliance of 
such objects, as mounted by him, so generally evoked. 
It is needless to remark, that wherever water exists, containing 
organic matter passing into a state of decay, these active little 
scavengers wiU be met with, in greater or lesser abundance and 
variety ; even the plash left by the summer shower, and remaining 
unevaporated for a few hours, may afford them. Various modes of 
capture must be pursued according to locality. To obtain the 
free-swimming oceanic species, we have obviously no other resource 
than the muslin tow-net, while there is practically no better means 
of securing the littoral species than by the collection of filamentous 
alga3, in which they harbour, from the rock pools, rinsing them in 
a basin of fresh water, and on subsidence, selecting the dead speci- 
mens. From the ponds and ditches, what may be called the bag 
and bottle net, is by far the most convenient and efficient imple- 
ment for obtaining them. This consists of a ring, five or six inches 
in diameter, screwing into a staff, to which a conical bag of crinoline, 
or some other material readily permeable by water, is attached, a 
draw-string in the apex securing a short wide-mouthed bottle firmly 
by its neck. This net, insinuated under floating weeds or the 
vegetation which borders and rests upon the water, and slightly 
shaken, disturbs and intercepts the Entomostracans in the act 
of sinking to the bottom for safety. In bright sunny weather, 
however, when they are found in greater numbers sporting on the 
surface, or in the warmer water of the shallows, a long narrow- 
necked vial (a ten-drachm one answers sufficiently well), fastened 
by an india-rubber loop to the staff, dipped just below the lip, and 
the water allowed to flow gently in and fill it, will be found more 
effective. In either mode of proceeding the contents of the bottles 
may be run off through a Wright's collecting-bottle, until a 
sufficient supply is procured. I may here take the opportunity of 
mentioning a small improvement on Wright's bottle, effected by 
attaching a fan-shaped, curved plate of metal, to the entrance-tube, 
so directitig the current of water against the muslin which covers 
the mouth of the outflow tube, as to prevent that accumulation of 
sordes upon it, which occasionally impairs its utility. 
* Communication to the Reading MieroscojDical Society, October 19th. 
