40 
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COLLECTING 
respectively the latitude and longitude, where each specimen was 
obtained. Some of the Sea-snakes found to the north of Australia 
attain to a considerable size, and it is desirable that the traveller 
should preserve even the largest in spirit. Such specimens require 
to be immersed for a comparatively long time in strong spirit, which 
should also be changed several times. 
Many Snakes are adorned with very bright and variegated colours 
during life, which disappear after death. If the traveller is a 
draughtsman, and can spare time, he should make a sketch of the 
Snake, and indicate the colours which it presented during life, so far 
that a complete drawing of the species can afterwards be made with 
the assistance of the sketch. 
Batkachians. 
The majority of Frogs and Salamanders and their larvae are 
covered with a very soft skin ; they should be placed in weaker 
spirit than reptiles, in order to prevent the shrinkage of those 
parts which are particularly soft. Although spirit of 10° under 
proof may be used for the first few days, it is necessary to 
examine the specimens every clay, as the intestinal canal frequently 
contains much food and water. The spirit must be changed three 
times at least, and often still more frequently, and finally replaced 
by spirit 5° or 10° above proof. There are many remarkable facts 
connected with the reproduction and sexual relations in this class of 
animals. If the traveller has an opportunity of observing examples 
of one or more species during the breeding-season, he should, if 
possible, obtain eggs, watch their development, and collect larvae in 
different stages of growth. Larvae correctly identified as to species 
are most valuable for the study of these animals, while those of 
whose origin nothing is known are almost always worthless. 
II. — FISHES. 
The treatment of fishes which are intended for preservation in 
spirit is very similar to that of reptiles and batrachians. The 
same kinds of spirit and cases may be used; but it .is advisable to 
