injected with alcohol through the mouth and anus, and also into the abdominal cavity. Reptiles may be treated like fishes, 

 as also most of the lower animals. I may say liere, that insects, and all brittle objects of Natural History, especially 

 when small, must be preserved in comparatively small jars ; whilst shell-fishes, crabs and lobsters, sea-urchins, star-fishes, 

 corals, &c., protected as they are by tlieir solid envelopes, need no special care after being put into alcohol, except, per- 

 haps, to be wrapped up in soft paper or in cloth. All kinds of insects, even butterflies, may be collected in strong alco- 

 hol, provided they are divided off into comparatively small jars and not allowed to shake. Such specimens answer best for 

 anatomical examination. It requires a peculiar skill to make good collections of dried specimens of insects, and to pin 

 and spread them properly, though specimens preserved in this manner are the most valuable for exhibition. The preserva- 

 tion of shells in alcohol, without removing the soft parts of the animal, is particularly desirable. Small shells are better 

 packed first in small boxes, and these packed like larger specimens. Geological specimens and fossils require to be 

 wrapped up carefully in several layers of soft paper, and packed closely to prevent any friction. 



As soon as a collection is supposed to be complete, it is best to send it off at once, that it may be taken care of prop- 

 erly, and examined whilst the specimens are in the best state of preservation. Not to multiply the packages, it is desir- 

 able to put every thing in one barrel or in one box ; but to secure their perfect preservation, under such circumstances, a 

 few precautions are required. In the first place, assort somewhat the alcoholic specimens, in tubs, before packing them, so 

 that the larger ones may be placed side by side and not crush the more delicate ones. After selecting an appropriate keg, 

 placing it upon one head, the other being removed, or taking, for packing, the barrel used for collecting, the larger speci- 

 mens are first put in, in the manner described above ; smaller tough ones, such as perches, being placed in the empty intervals, 

 and so on, until all the larger and coarser specimens are disposed of, and covered with alcohol, which is poured in gradually. 

 Upon these, a layer of rags or soft paper is placed, to protect the next layer of smaller fishes, between each of which a layer 

 of rags is to be added to prevent the too close contact of such a bulk of flesh, avoiding, however, all pressure upon the speci- 

 mens, and allowing them simply to rest upon one another with their natural weight. In this way, a whole barrel of fishes 

 may be packed with perfect safety, like sardines, and travel for thousands of miles, with a comparatively small quantity of 

 alcohol between them. Finally, the smallest specimens, already packed by themselves in small jars, in the same manner as 

 the larger ones in the barrel, may be also packed in the barrel, being wrapped up in rags, and in that condition placed among 

 the larger specimens ; or the small jars containing the small fishes may be packed in a box by themselves. Before closing 

 up the barrel, it is necessary to see that no empty space is left ; otherwise, even when full of alcohol, the solid contents . 

 may move ; and for their preservation nothing is more important than to prevent the specimens from jarring when travel- 

 ling. This applies equally to the small jars. However, before heading the barrel, it is necessary to draw, through the 

 bunghole, so much of the alcohol as may be necessary to allow the head to be secured without losing any liquid. After 

 heading the barrel, it is to be completely filled with alcohol either through the bunghole or through a small hole in the 

 upper head. The liquor used in collecting may be used again in packing, provided it be strengthened by some additional 

 alcohol that may give it at least the strength required, as stated above. In packing dried specimens, the same care must 

 be taken to pack first the heavy ones together, and next to protect the delicate ones by packing them beforehand in small 

 boxes before allowing them to go among the larger ones. 



After having mentioned all the preparations necessary to obtain perfect collections, I may add, that any rough gather- 

 ing of a few specimens, taken up accidentally, may be also quite welcome, and highly valuable as a first indication of 

 what might be obtained from a locality the natural productions of which have not yet been studied. A mere catalogue of 

 all the fishes known to the anglers and fishermen of your vicinity, giving their vernacular names, would be very ac- 

 ceptable. 



A notice of the physical character of the localities where specimens have been collected would be a valuable addition 

 to the collection itself. Respecting the land it should mention : the height above the level of the sea, if known, the nature 

 of the soil, whether dry, moist or swampy, muddy, sandy or rocky, &c. Respecting the waters : the mean and extreme- 

 temperatures, if ascertained, whether clear or muddy, and of what color, deep or shallow, stagnant or current; of rivers, 

 especially, the rapidity of the current, and also whether subject to great rise and fall. 



When despatching such colleclioiis to their final destination, it is important to mark each barrel or box with a conspicuous : 

 sign, that there should be no possihility of mistahing them; the chief value of specimens in Natural History arising in our- 

 days from a correct identification of their origin. 



1^ Any parcel directed to me, care of Stratton''s Cambridge Express, Boston, will reach me safely, and be taken 

 care of, even in case I should be absent from Cambridge. To save you any further trouble, you may deliver your parcels., 

 to a commission merchant of your place, and request him when forwarding to send me a bill of lading, mentioning the 

 sign marked upon the parcels. Small packages may be sent by express, larger ones by the ordinary freight lints. 



Cambridge, 1853. 



