REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST 213 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



aud locality where it was collected. Unmounted specimens are preferable for examina- 

 tion to those mounted or fastened down to sheets of mounting paper. Botanical speci- 

 mens should never be fastened down in boiind books and there should never be more 

 than one kind of plant on each sheet. A bundle of dried plants can be sent safely by 

 mail if protected on the outside with sheets of cardboard. 



When plants are sent in as weeds or merely to get the names of a few specimens, 

 all that is necessary is to roll up each one separately in a piece of paper and number 

 the specimens in accordance with notes on each given in the accompanying letter of 

 inquiry. If it is desired to have the specimens returned this should always be stated 

 and as with specimens of insects every packet of plants should have the name of the 

 sender written plainly on the outside and be accompanied by a letter enclosed in a 

 separate envelope. 



Under the above conditions it is always a great pleasure to examine and report 

 upon any specimens which may be sent in, and all will be attended to and the report 

 sent back as ijromptly as other work in the Division will allow of, but when several 

 plants are tied up in a bundle or crowded into an envelope, as is sometimes done by 

 our correspondents, frequently in a moist condition, much time is wasted in doing 

 here what the enquirers ought to have done before sending in the specimens. More- 

 over when they get their plants back again they are of far less value to them for pur- 

 poses of identification than if they had dried them and packed them with a little care 

 at first. 



When correspondents wish it, we are always pleased to return the specimens sent 

 in for naming; but when they have duplicates in good condition we are glad to get 

 them either for our own collections in the Division or for other correspondents who 

 frequently ask for specimens of special plants or insects. Very many species of natural 

 history objects although very common in certain localities, do not occur at all or are 

 quite rare at other places. 



