54 NATURALISTS' ASSISTANT. 



different colors are used for these tablets ; this in the case 

 of geological collections has its advantages, as different for- 

 mations may be indicated by the color of the tablet bearing 

 the specimen. The general effect, however, is not so good as 

 when a uniform black is employed in all departments of the 

 museum. Various substitutes for the wooden tablets have 

 been proposed and each has its advocates. Pasteboard, 

 slate and glass have all been used, but .wood, taking every- 

 thing into consideration, is the best. 



The specimens are affixed to these tablets in various ways. 

 A common method is with "grafting wax." The grafting 

 wax, such as is used by gardeners, is kept melted in a glue 

 pot over a spirit lamp and a drop taken up with a brush and 

 placed in the desired spot on the tablet and the specimen 

 placed on it, and a few moments only are required to set the 

 wax and hold the specimen firmly. If at any time it be de- 

 sired to remove the object from the tablet, a knife blade 

 slightly warmed will accomplish it, and all wax may be cleaned 

 from the specimen by alcohol or turpentine. Others employ 

 sealing wax dissolved in alcohol, or common glue, for fasten- 

 ing the specimens, but while they hold the object securely, 

 it cannot be as readily removed. 



Many minute forms (shells, etc.) cannot be fastened di- 

 rectly to the tablets and at such times small homoeopathic 

 vials are used. The specimens are placed in these and the 

 vials are then stopped with a cork or a bit of cotton wool, 

 and then cemented to the tablet by wax or glue. A label 

 should always be placed in each vial. A great desideratum 



