78 PREPARATION AND MOUNTING 
the cover is placed upon it, or the damp will certainly 
become condensed upon the inner side, and the examination 
seriously hindered. %, . 
Many of the Foraminifera require cutting into sections if 
it is wished to examine their internal structure ;—“ decal- 
cifying” is also desirable in some cases: both of these 
processes will be found described at length in the chapter on 
Sections and Dissections, 
When more than one specimen of some particular shell is 
obtained, it is better to place them upon the slide in dif- 
ferent positions, so as to show as much of the structure as 
possible. I will conclude this subject by quoting a passage 
from T. Rymer Jones: “It is, therefore, by no means suf- 
ficient to treat these shells as ordinary objects by simply 
laying them on a glass slide, so as to see them only from 
one or two points of view; they must be carefully examined 
in every direction, for such is the diversity of form that 
nothing short of this will be at all satisfactory. For this 
purpose, they should be attached to the point of a fine 
needle, so that they may be turned in any direction, and 
examined by reflected light condensed upon them by means 
of a lens or side reflector. In many of the thick-shelled 
species it will be necessary to grind them down on a hone 
[see Chapter VI.] before the number and arrangement ot 
the internal chambers is discernible; and in order to 
investigate satisfactorily the minutize of their structure, 
a variety of sections, made in various ways, is indis- 
pensable.” . 
‘A visitor to the seaside may with little trouble procure 
one of the most beautiful objects which can ornament a 
cabinet. On turning over stones which have been covered 
by the last tide, a very small species of starfish will often be 
met with. From a small circular centre five long arms 
project, each of which is covered with spines beautifully 
arranged. When found, they should be dropped into fresh 
water with a little spirit added. This kills them instantly, 
else many of their long arms get broken by their struggles. 
