1 3 
days, the specimens may be transferred to fresh concentrated solution. 
When the aluminous fluid is used to preserve vertebrate animals, 
these should not remain in it for more than a few days ; after this, 
they are to be soaked in fresh water, and transferred to the saline 
solution. An immersion of some weeks in the aluminous fluid will 
cause a destruction of the bones. Specimens must be kept submerged 
in these fluids. The success of the operation will depend very much 
upon the use of a weak solution in the first instance, and a change to 
the saturated fluid by one or two intermediate steps. 
The collector should have a small keg, jar, tin box, or other suitable 
vessel, partially filled with liquor, into which specimens may be thrown 
as collected. They should be alive, or as near it as possible when this 
is done, as besides the speedy and little painful death, the animal will 
be more apt to keep sound. The entrance of the spirit into the cavi- 
ties of the body should be facilitated by opening the mouth, making 
a small incision in the abdomen a half or one inch long, and especially 
by injecting the liquor into the intestines through the anus, by means 
of a small syringe. After the animal has soaked for some weeks in 
this liquor, it should be transferred to fresh. Care should be taken 
not to crowd the specimens too much, and the slightest taint of putri- 
dity should»be the signal for the employment of fresh spirits. When 
it is impossible to transfer specimens to fresh spirits from time to time, 
the strongest alcohol should be originally used. 
To pack the specimens for transportation, procure a small keg, which 
has been properly swelled, by allowing water to stand in it for a day 
or two, and from this extract the head by knocking off the upper hoops. 
Great care must be taken to make such marks on the hoops and head, 
as will assist in their being replaced in precisely the same relative posi- 
tion to each other and the keg, that they originally held. At the 
bottom of the keg place a layer of tow moistened in liquor, then one 
of specimens, then another of tow and another of specimens, and so 
on alternately until the keg is filled. Replace the head, drive down 
the hoops, and fill completely with spirits by pouring through the bung- 
hole. Allow it to stand at least half an hour, and then, supplying the 
deficiency of the liquor, insert the bung and fasten it securely. An 
oyster-can or other tin vessel may be used to great advantage, in which 
case the aperture should be soldered up and the vessel inclosed in a 
box. A glass jar or bottle may also be employed, but there is always 
a risk of breaking and leaking. In the absence of tow, chopped straw, 
fine shavings, or dry grass may be substituted. 
