NATURAL HISTORY. 235 



DIRECTIONS FOR COLLECTING, PRESERVING, AND TRANSPORTING 

 SPECIMENS OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



PREPARED FOR THE USE OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 



Br Professor S. F. BAIRD. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The present brief directions for collecting and preserving objects of 

 natural history have been drawn up for the use of travellers and 

 others who may desire elementary instruction on this subject. The 

 general principles involved are so simple as to enable any one, with 

 but little practice, to preserve specimens sufficiently well for the ordi- 

 nary purposes of science. 



In transmitting specimens to the Smithsonian Institution, recourse 

 may be had, when practicable^ to the facilities kindly authorized by 

 the War, Navy, and Treasury Departments, in the annexed letters. 

 Parcels collected in the vicinity of military posts in the interior may 

 usually be sent down to the coast or the frontier in returning trains 

 of the quartermaster's department. From the Atlantic, Pacific, or 

 Mexican gulf coasts, they may be shipped on board storeships, reve- 

 nue cutters, or other government vessels, to some convenient Atlantic 

 seaport. While waiting for opportunities of shipment, packages can 

 generally be deposited in custom-houses or public stores. 



Where it is not convenient or practicable to make use of govern- 

 ment facilities, the ordinary lines of transportation may be employed. 

 When there is time enough to communicate with the Institution, in- 

 structions will be supplied as to the most eligible route ; if not, then 

 the cheapest but most reliable line should be selected. In every case 

 the parcels should be addressed to the Smithsonian Institution, Wash- 

 ington, with the name of sender and locality marked on the outside. 

 Full directions for packing specimens will be found in the pamphlet. 



Collections in natural history, as complete as possible, including 

 the commonest species, are requested from any part of the country ; 

 as also lists and descriptions of species, notes of habits, &c. 



For all assistance which may be rendered, either in gathering spe- 

 cimens or in aiding in their transportation, full credit will be given 

 by the Institution in the annual reports to Congress, catalogues and 

 labels of collections, and in other ways. 



§ I. GENERAL REMARKS.* 



The general principle to be observed in making collections of natural 

 history, especially in a country but little explored, is, to gather all the 



•^ This chapter is intended especially for the guidance of travelling parties hy land, and 

 embraces mfiny points referred to subsequently at greater length. 



