10 MEMORANDA IN REFERENCE TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OPERATIONS. 



All the alcohol used should he supplied with tartar emetic. This, besides adding to its pre 

 servative powers, will remove any temptation to drinking it on the part of unscrupulous per 

 sons. 



Insects can, with the exception of lepideptera, be readily preserved in alcohol ; crabs and 

 small shells may likewise be treated in the same manner. 



The specimens from each locality should be -kept entirely separate. This can readily be clone 

 by means of the lino bags. The locality of the specimens may be marked with a red or black 

 pencil on the outside,, or written with ink on a piece of parchment and dropped inside. The 

 ink should be perfectly dry before being wetted. Larger specimens may have the parchment 

 label tied to some part without enclosure in the bags. 



As the instructions contained in the &quot;Directions&quot; are not sufficiently minute in regard to 

 plants, it will be necessary to go here into some detail. The portfolios provided are intended 

 to receive the plants as collected. About forty or fifty sheets of the paper should be put into 

 the portfolio on starting out on an excursion. Put the specimens of each species in a separate 

 sheet as fast as gathered from the plant, taking a fresh sheet for each additional species. On 

 returning to camp, place these sheets (without changing or distributing the plants) between the 

 brown drying-papers in the press, and draw the straps tight enough to produce the requisite 

 pressure. The next day the driers may be changed, and those previously used laid in the sun 

 to dry. This to be continued until the plants are perfectly dry. 



If paper and transportation be limited, several specimens from the same locality may be com 

 bined in the same sheet after they are dry. 



Throw into each sheet a slip of paper having a number or locality written on it correspond 

 ing with a list kept in a memorandum book. Kecord the day of the month, locality, size, and 

 character of the plant, color of flower, fruit, &c. 



If the stem is too long, double it or cut it into lengths. Collect, if possible, half a dozen 

 specimens of each kind. In the small specimens, collect the entire plant so as to show the root. 



It will not be possible to collect minerals, fossils, and geological specimens in very great 

 quantity of large dimensions. The fossils selected should be as perfect as possible, and especial 

 care should be paid to procuring the bones and teeth of vertebrate animals. Of the minerals 

 and rocks, specimens as large as a hickory-nut will, in most cases, be sufficient for identification. 



All facts relating to the habits and peculiarities of the various species of animals should be 

 carefully recorded in the note-book, especially those having relation to the peculiarities of the 

 season of reproduction, &c. The accounts of hunters and others should also be collected, as 

 much valuable information may thus be secured. 



The colors of the reptiles and fishes when alive should always be given. 



MEMORANDUM OF APPARATUS FOR MAKING COLLECTIONS IN NATURAL HISTORY, SUPPLIED TO THE 



SEVERAL PARTIES OF MAJOR I. I. STEVENS. 



1. Two leather panniers, supplied with back-strap for throwing across a mule. One of these 

 is intended to contain the copper kettles, and their included alcohol, together with the nets and 

 other apparatus ; the other to hold the botanical apparatus, skins of animals, minerals, &c. 



2. Two copper kettles in one of the panniers, to contain the alcohol for such specimens as 

 require this mode of preservation, viz: reptiles, fishes, small quadrupeds, most insects, and all 

 soft invertebrates. The alcohol, if over eighty per cent., should have one-fourth of water 

 added. 



3. An iron wrench, to loosen the screw-caps of the copper kettles, when too tight to be man 

 aged by hand. 



4. Two India rubber bags, one for each kettle. These are intended to be inflated inside of 

 the kettles, and by displacing the alcohol cause it to rise to the edge of the brass cup, and thus 



