§ 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 species which may present themselves, subject to the 

 convenience or practicability of transportation. The number of 

 specimens to be secured will, of course, depend upon their size, and 

 the variety of form or condition caused by the different features of 

 age, sex, or season. 



As the object of the Institution in making its collections is not 

 merely to possess the different species, but also to determine their 

 geographical distribution, it becomes important to have as full 

 series as practicable from each locality. And in commencing such 

 collections, the commonest species should be secured first, as being 

 most characteristic, and least likely to be found elsewhere. It is 

 a fact well known in the history of museums, that the species which 

 from their abundance would be first expected, are the last to be 

 received. 



In every little known region the species which are the commonest, 

 are rarest elsewhere, and many an unscientific collector in Texas, 

 Mexico, the Rocky Mts., and elsewhere, has been surprised to find 

 what he considered the least valuable species in his collection 

 (owing to the ease with which they had been obtained in numbers), 

 more prized by the naturalist than the rarities, which were in fact 

 only well known stragglers from more accessible localities. 



The first specimen procured of any animal, however imperfect, 

 should be preserved, at least until a better can be obtained. 



Where a small proportion only of the specimens collected can be 

 transported, such species should be selected as are least likely to 

 be procured in other localities or on other occasions. Among these 

 may be mentioned reptiles, fishes, soft insects, &c.; in short, all 

 such as require alcohol for their preservation. Dried objects, as 



* This cliapter is intended especially for the guidance of travelling 

 parties by land, and embraces many points referred to subsequently at 

 greater length. 



