138 ON COLLECTING AND PEESERVINa FOSSILS. 



especially when it is desired to fix a fragment so that it can be 

 separated again. 



Packing Fossils. 



1. 

 paper. 



In packing fossils always use flexible material, such as crumpled j 

 I', shavings, straw, moss, grass, or cotton-wool — never sawdust, ' 

 sand, or grain (chaff). Boxes should be tightly packed, leaving no 

 room for shifting of contents. 



2. Boxes are better small and numerous than large and few. 

 Heavy cases suffer more from concussion in transport than small 

 boxes. 



Small boxes, carefully packed and placed in a larger case, will 

 travel well. 



The opening of cases by Customs officers in docks* and on the 

 frontier of foreign states is often more fatal than a very long journey 

 to the contents of boxes. Bribery in such cases seems permissible, 

 to ensure lenient treatment of collections. 



* If addressed " To the Director of the British Museum (Natural History), 

 Cromwell Koad, London, S.W.," the cases will not be opened b}' the British 

 Customs officers, but se7it on at once under seal. 



