CHAPTER XIII. 



EXCHANGING. 



One of the pleasantest features of the A. A. is the 

 exchange of specimens between members. Some hints 

 may be helpful. When you have duplicates which you 

 wish to exchange, decide as nearly as possible what you 

 wish in return. Send your request, tersely written 

 to the President. Our magazine is printed some time 

 before it is issued, so that you should send any notice 

 at least a month before you wish to see it in print. In 

 preparing packages for the mail, be sure that you en- 

 close the specimens in a box sufficiently strong to with- 

 stand the frequent concussions of the way, and so 

 securely wrapped and tied that it shall not become un- 

 done. About one-third of the packages received here are 

 broken on the way. Minerals should be separately 

 wrapped in paper or cloth before being put into the box. 

 Eggs may safely be sent in auger-holes bored in little 

 blocks of wood. Flowers and ferns should be carefully 

 inclosed between strong sides of pasteboard. Insects 

 should be pinned with the utmost possible strength and 

 care into boxes thoroughly lined with cork, very strong, 

 light, and doubly wrapped. Beetles and bugs may be 

 sent in cotton, like eggs. Always prepay postage in full. 

 Inclose no writing in the package (except the labels of 

 the specimens, which are allowed), but never neglect 

 to accompany the package with a postal card or letter, 

 describing contents, stating from whom it comes, and 

 rehearsing what you expect to receive in exchange. It is 

 often utterly impossible to determine the sender of a 

 package, or to know what to send in return. Tie the 

 parcel strongly, but do not seal it, unless you wish to 



