PALEONTOLOGY. 145 



soaking in a solution of gum or gelatine (the latter 

 being of such strength as just to set on cooling). Speci- 

 mens that have been cut out of soft sandy clays will 

 also be benefited by such soaking, since they are apt to 

 crack and crumble in drying ; such treatment may in 

 many cases be deferred until the specimens have 

 arrived at their ultimate destination, wherever that 

 may be. 



Chalk fossils and those that have been obtained from 

 any similar porous limestone along the sea-shore should 

 be soaked in fresh water for several weeks, the water 

 being changed at least once a week ; this is the only 

 way we know of to prevent the efflorescence of the salt 

 in such cases, and the consequent splitting up of fossils 

 which have cost time and pains to extract. We have 

 now in our collection Chalk Echinoderms and other 

 fossils which were thus treated seven or eight years ago, 

 only one or two of them having "gone" probably in con- 

 sequence of insufficient soaking. 



Naming and Nomenclature. Having thus prepared 

 our fossils for their final packing on the completion of 

 the geological survey of the district, every specimen 

 ought to be numbered, and the numbers entered in a 

 special book, the name, locality, and " location " of each 

 being entered opposite every one. With regard to the 

 naming, it will probably be impossible to name all, 

 without reference to other authorities than are then at 

 command; in these cases the numbers will show the- 

 specimens which remain for future identification. 



We will now suppose that the whole collection has 

 arrived at its ultimate resting-place, whether this be a 

 private or public museum. 



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