INSTRUCTIONS FOR COLLECTING 
REPTILES, BATRACHIANS, AND FISHES. 
I.—REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS. 
Reptiles should be preserved in spirit whenever practicable. 
Spirit. — The collector should provide himself with the best and 
strongest alcohol procurable. This can be afterwards diluted with 
water or with weaker spirit, until it is reduced to the degree of 
strength required in each case. As the collector would often have 
difficulty in obtaining spirit while travelling, he is advised to take 
a sufficient supply with him. Methylated spirit may be recom- 
mended on account of its greater cheapness ; but specimens do not 
keep nearly so well in this liquid, and it should not be used for 
the preservation of particularly valuable specimens, or such as are 
intended to be used afterwards for anatomical investigation. In 
default of spirit the collector may use arrack, brandy, rum, or any 
other spirituous liquid which he can procure, provided it possesses 
the requisite strength. Any spirit which takes fire immediately on 
the application of a light, without having been previously warmed, 
is strong enough to be used for the preservation of animals. 
The following is a simple method of diluting alcohol to any desired 
per cent. : — 
Of alcohol of known per cent, take the number of cubic centimetres 
represented by the figures in the required per cent., add enough water 
to bring the whole up to the number of cubic centimetres represented 
by the figures in the known per cent. The mixture will be of the 
required per cent. To illustrate : 
To make 50 % alcohol from 95 % alcohol, add to 50 c.c. of 95 % 
