COLLECTION OF MINERALS. 81 



value and importance of the sanldstone under your 

 feet, the slate on your roof, the coal in your cellar, or 

 the pebbles by the brook. 



Geological collecting 1 is comparatively easy, since 

 minerals and fossils do not have to be pursued over 

 brier and brake, like butterflies, nor are they perish- 

 able in nature. They have not to be pressed nor kept in 

 alcohol. Their chief drawback is that rocks are hard 

 and heavy. The former difficulty is, however, readily 

 overcome by a geological hammer, and the latter by a 

 stout bag and a strong 1 arm to carry it, although it is 

 better if the bag can be suspended by a strap from 

 the shoulder. 



Hammers of various shapes and sizes are useful in 

 breaking 1 and trimming specimens; but the best hammer 

 for general use is one weighing from one to two pounds, 

 with a square head at one end, and tapering to a chisel- 

 like edge at the other. The square head is used for 

 breaking and trimming hard masses, while the chisel- 

 edge, which should be at right angles to the handle, is 

 well adapted for splitting shales, schists, etc-, and for 

 digging out crystals and fossils. A cold-chisel or some 

 similar sharp pointed iron is also very useful for these 

 purposes. 



The extraction of fossils from the rock is often an 

 admirable test of patience. If the rock be hard and 

 crystalline, try to get off a chip containing the fossil, 

 take it home, and then with a small (tack) hammer 

 carefully clean it. For the more delicate fossils, like 

 criiioids, various sharp instruments like files or broken 

 dentists'-tools are often useful. Note the essential 

 points in your note-book, and sketch the fossil. If you 

 break it, clean the pieces, and stick them together with 

 mucilage in which a few drops of glycerine have been 



