OF OBJECTS IN NATURAL HISTORY. 501 



of the length : the split part is tied together, so as to form a hoop, 

 upon which the gauze is sewed in the form of a bag j the lower part 

 serves as a handle, and with this, all flying insects may be very 

 easily caught. When the insect is once within the rim of the net, 

 by turning it on either side, its escape is completely prevented by 

 the pressure of the gauze or muslin against the edge of the hoop. 



" Crabs. Crabs, Lobsters, &c. may be suffocated in spirits of 

 wine or turpentine, and then dried in an oven. 



tf Crustaceous Animals. Sea Stars, after washing in fresh water, 

 may be extended on boards by means of pins, and when dry, laid 

 between folds of paper, and packed in a box with a little camphor. 



" In Echini or Sea Eggs, the soft internal parts are to be ex- 

 tracted by the anus : they are then to be stuffed with cotton, and 

 carefully packed with tow or cotton. Particular attention should 

 be paid to the preserving of the spines. 



11 Seeds. In collecting seeds, it is desirable that they should be 

 well ripened, and dried in the sun. Large quantities should never 

 be put together, but only a few, and these well selected. They re- 

 tain their vegetative powers much better if tied up in linen or cot- 

 ton cloth, than in any other substances ; and if then packed up in 

 small boxes, and placed in an airy part of the ship, there is every 

 probability of their arriving in a sound state. The same remark 

 applies to bulbous roots. Bulbs should never be put in the same 

 box with seeds. The boxes with seeds, and with bulbs, ought ne- 

 ver to be put into the ship's hold. 



" Dried Plants. The greater part of plants dry easily between 

 leaves of books, or other paper. If there be plenty of paper, they 

 often dry best without shifting ; but if the specimens are crowded, 

 they must be taken out frequently, and the paper dried before they 

 are replaced. Those plants which are very tenacious of life, ought 

 to be killed by the application of a hot iron, such as is used for linen, 

 after which they are easily dried. The collections to be carefully 

 packed in boxes with camphor, and closed in the same manner, as 

 directed for quadrupeds and birds. 



ff Minerals. 1. Every mineral, from the most common clay or 

 sand, to the gem, ought to be collected. 



" 2. Specimens of rocks, such as granite, porphyry, limestone, 

 &c. should, if possible, be broken from fixed rocks, and not from 

 loose masses, which are generally decayed. In selecting the speci- 

 mens, one set ought to represent the different varieties of appear- 

 ance presented by the rock in the fresh state, another, the rock in 

 its different states of decomposition. 



" 3. When the specimens of simple minerals, or rocks, contain 



