CHAPTER XVII 



ARRANGING A MUSEUM COLLECTION 



THE methods of displaying, attaching to mica or glass, etc. 

 I have already given (chapter on "Preserving "). There only 

 remains to say that after the spirit or formalin solution re- 

 quires no further changing, but remains bright, the glass 

 disc on the top of the jar must be securely " luted " down, 

 proof against evaporation, with either gold size or gold size 

 and red lead, or, what I find better, the mixture of india- 

 rubber in melted wax, as described previously, then the 

 margins cleaned off and finished with black enamel. 



Dried specimens Crustaceans, Echinoderms, Shells 

 should be fastened to suitable mounts. Very excellent ones, 

 which are made of thin wood, cut with precision, and 

 covered with neutral -tinted paper, are to be had at the 

 natural history stores. 



All these dry specimens should be kept in drawers, away 

 from the light, or they will bleach to some extent, and 

 while this does not interfere with the specimens, from the 

 purely scientific point, it detracts greatly from their ap- 

 pearance. 



A system of classification must be decided upon, the most 

 recent preferably, and the specimens arranged accordingly, 

 blank spaces being left where, if a specimen is not on hand, 

 yet there is possibility of obtaining, it may be put. 



The jars with fluid should not be filled quite to the top, 

 but a little cushion of air left for compression, etc., as 

 temperature may vary, otherwise an " air leak " will occur. 

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