8o THREE KINGDOMS. 



Railroad Guide, and you will find there the geology 

 of the nearest station given. Discuss in your meeting 

 why it should be an Orthis rather than a Rynchonella, 

 and if still fairly puzzled send it to a specialist for 

 name. Then destroy your provisional label, and put 

 the same number on your final one. Label nothing by 

 guesswork. Take nothing for granted, and don't send 

 imperfect specimens, or too many kinds at once, for 

 names to those willing to aid you. 



In collecting rocks we should be careful to get 

 clear, unweathered specimens, and, so far as practi- 

 cable, carefully trim them to a uniform shape and size. 

 For private or chapter collections, the specimens 

 should be about 2^x3 or 3x4 inches square, and 

 one-half inch to one inch thick. The beginner will be 

 surprised to find how much this careful selection and 

 trimming of specimens adds to their appearance and 

 value. 



Specimens that are worth collecting are worth a 

 little pains to keep them in good condition. Although 

 minerals are hard, yet they are very easily injured or 

 even ruined by rough handling, and especially by 

 knocking or rubbing against one another. When start- 

 ing on a collecting-trip, put a number of old news- 

 papers in your bag, and then let each specimen be 

 securely wrapped as soon as collected. Small wooden 

 or pasteboard boxes are almost indispensable for fragile 

 crystals and fossils. After each collecting-trip, your 

 specimens should be carefully labeled, either by num- 

 bers referring to a catalogue, or by cards containing 

 the name, locality, etc. The record of the locality is 

 particularly important, since many kinds, especially of 

 rocks, are rendered almost valueless by the loss of this 

 interesting fact. Geological specimens will not bear 

 huddling together ; but their appearance is greatly 

 enhanced by placing each by itself in a neat pasteboard 



