502 PREPARATION AND PRESERVATION 



crystals, they ought to be wrapped in gauze-paper, then in cotton, 

 and afterwards in several folds of strong wrapping-paper. 



" 4. The specimens of rocks ought, if possible, never to be less 

 than four inches square, and one inch in thickness, and of a square 

 form. As soon as they have been prepared, they should be labelled, 

 and wrapped in several folds of strong ^wrapping-paper. When 

 paper cannot be procured, moss, or other soft vegetable substance, 

 may be substituted for it. 



" 5. The sands of deserts, steppes, and rivers, ought to be care- 

 .fully collected. The sands of rivers often contain precious stones 

 and metals, and hence become very interesting objects to the natu- 

 ralist. The sands of deserts and steppes throw much light on the 

 nature of the surrounding country, and are much prized by the 

 geologist. 



" 6. Numerous mineralized animal and vegetable remains occur 

 imbedded in strata of different kinds ; all these ought to be very 

 carefully collected, and preserved. Abundance of shells in a fossil 

 or petrified state, are met with in limestone ; of vegetables in 

 slate-clay, sandstone, &c. ; and numerous bones, and even whole 

 skeletons of quadrupeds, birds, amphibious animals, fishes, and even 

 of insects, occur in rocks of various descriptions. 



" 7 The mineralogist ought to provide himself with hammers of 

 various sizes. One for common use of two pounds weight ; others, 

 three, four, and six pounds weight. He ought also to provide him- 

 self with chisels of various sizes and forms, and with a set of small 

 boring-irons. A miner's compass, small magnifying glass, gonio- 

 meter, and blowpipe, ought also to form part of his equipment. 

 The two first are indispensably necessary for the travelling mine- 

 ralogist. Nor should he neglect to provide himself with a strong 

 bag j the form that of a fowling-bag, lined with strong leather, co- 

 vered with wax-cloth, and the outside of some durable cloth." 



The art of preparing and mounting the skins of animals for 

 preservation in a Museum has been denominated Taxidermy. 

 Many methods to attain the desired end in the best manner 

 have been proposed. Reaumur published a Memoir on the 

 subject of preserving the skins of birds sent from distant coun- 

 tries, and formed a beautiful collection in his own house, which 

 after his death became the basis of that in the Museum at Pa- 

 ris. According to the instructions he had given, he received 

 birds from all quarters in spirit of wine. On taking them from 

 the liquid, he simply introduced two ends of an iron wire into 



