the spirit whenever practicable; for this purpose a strong spirit 

 should be diluted, else the animal is hardened and the shell 

 damaged. 



The animal may be best killed and removed from the shell by 

 immersing in boiling water, and allowing it gradually to cool. 

 This will loosen its muscular attachments, when it can be readily 

 extracted, in most cases whole. 



It is perhaps unnecessary to say that the value of shells in 

 reference to indications of geographical distribution, will-depend 

 entirely upon the accuracy of their labels of station and locality. 

 The greatest care should always be taken to mark down the 

 locality at the time of collecting, if on a journey, and to verify 

 as far as possible all statements in respect to this point relating 

 to specimens obtained from others. S})eciraens received from 

 other sources should always be packed and labelled separately 

 from those obtained by the collector. 



The west coast abounds in Limpets. These are found adher- 

 ing to rocks at low water. Some are only seen at the ebb of 

 spring tides ; others live adhering to the fronds and stems of 

 kelp, some being extremely small. The animals of all these 

 should be preserved ; and, as they drop out of the shells in spi- 

 rit, each kind should be tied up separately. There are several 

 slipper limpets {Crepidulidce) and key-hole limpets {Fissurellidce) 

 to which attention is requested. They generally live attached to 

 other shells. There is a very large species in which the shell is 

 almost hidden {Lucapina cremdata), which should be always 

 preserved in spirit. The Cldton tribe (woodlouse shells) deserve 

 special attention. As they are apt to roll up into a ball, they 

 should be tied flat to a strip of wood on being taken off the rock, 

 and then immersed in spirit. A large species, in which the 

 shelly plates are quite hidden, and the animal looks like a lea- 

 thery lump, should be specially sought after. The animals of the 

 great Ear Shells {Haliotis) should also be preserved in spirits. 

 Of these and of the Limpets, and indeed of all shells, it is very 

 desirable to collect individuals of all ages, especially of the 

 youngest. If they be found in spawning season, the eggs should 

 be preserved in spirit. 



Special attention should be given to the Top Shells iTrochid<jp) 

 which, with all other univalve shells, should be carefully preserved 

 with their opercula, or horny (sometimes shelly) lid on the mouth. 



