1958 



Journal of Applied Microscopy 



be exercised in using it and the specimens frequently washed, lest damage be 

 done to the shell. The smaller bivalves, the Sphceria and Pisidia, are best 

 treated by putting into diluted alcohol for a day or two and then drying them. 

 If left too long the shells are apt to open, which interferes with the looks of the 

 specimens. 



The larger species of Sp/uerium are better with the animal removed. This 

 can be done after boiling or a few days in alcohol. As these are usually too 

 small to be easily tied together to keep the valves from gaping, each specimen, 

 while the hinge is flexible, should be closely wrapped up in a small piece of 

 tissue paper until completely dry. 



A good collection is characterized by two essentials : 



First. The careful selection and preparation of the specimens themselves. 



Second. Absolute accuracy in the matter of the localities from which they come. 



There is little excuse for having poor and ill-cleaned specimens. There is 

 none at all for failure to keep accurate records of the collector's field work. A 

 drawer of a common species, such as Polygyra albolabris, without any indication 

 from where they came, even if well cleaned, would be absolutely without value. 

 Such a drawer of any of our species from fifty or one hundred dififerent localities, 

 definitely indicated, would be a valuable contribution to the conchology of any state. 



Specific names can be supplied or corrected any time, but a mistaken or 

 erroneous locality cannot ever be corrected. The collector therefore should be 

 careful never to trust to memory for facts of this kind. 



Both in collecting and cleaning, the specimens from each locality should be 

 kept carefully separated and labeled. Too much importance cannot be given to 

 this point. The study of the geographical distribution of the mollusca is one of 

 the most important branches of conchological work, and this, to be of any value, 

 must be based on absolutely accurate work on the part of the collector. 



ARRANGEMENT OF THE COLLECnON. 

 The manner of casing and arranging the collection is largely one of individual 

 preference. A catalogue, however, is essential, and it is better to begin systemat- 

 ically in this particular and thus avoid the necessity of doing it all over again, 

 when the collection begins to assume considerable size. There should be a 

 serial catalogue and a card catalogue. Each addition to the collection should 

 be numbered as soon as received and entered in the serial catalogue, which 

 should be a book ruled in as many columns as the collector desires. A con- 

 venient form is as follows : 



The card catalogue is convenient in a small collection. It becomes abso- 

 lutely necessary in a large one. 



