68 
the very edge of waterways of all kinds. 
Some of them like to ascend reed-grass, etc. 
Such specimens should be collected by gently | 
bending the reed over an inverted umbrella. 
and then striking it with a stick. 
These few hints may seem wholly or par- 
tially unnecessary to an experienced collector, 
but I think they will be of some value to our | 
young friends. If you will allow me, Mr. 
Editor, I shall add in the next issue, a few 
words concerning the treatment of the shells. 
VALVES. 
Professor Josiah Keep, in his popular little 
work, “California Shells,’ gives the following 
directions for preserving Chitons: ‘Chitons 
are hard to preserve in proper shape; it may 
be done, howeyer, by tying them flat to a 
shingle with candle wicking,and placing them 
in fresh water. After they are dead and the 
muscular mantle has lost its contractile power, 
they must be loosened from the shingle and 
the viscera removed with a sharp knife. 
If you have shells, books, scientific iustru- | 
ments or natural history specimens to exchange, 
use the columns of “The Conchologists’ Ex- 
change,”’ and you will dispose of them. 
We have collected many specimens of JZar- 
gartana from the large timber rafts on the 
Susquehanna River during the summer weather; 
and you may do likewise. 
Nore.—Our exchangers have secured from 
50 to 400 new species by means of ove adver- 
tisement. ‘Try printer’s ink and be convinced. 
Mention is make in Woodward’s Manual of 
the Mollusca, of a Helix hortensts which got 
entangled in a nut-shell when young, and 
growing too large to escape, had to endvre the 
incumbus to the end of its days. 
Should you desire to secure a premium from 
the fine list we offer, we will send you a blank 
for the names of ‘*New Subscuaibers,’’? upon 
application. 
THE - CONCHOLOGISTS’: EXCHANGE 
The 15th annual report of ‘The Zoological 
Society of Philadelphia” was submitted at the 
meeting held April 28th. Itshows a member- 
ship of 529 and earnestly requests the names of 
new members. Donations to the permanent 
fund may be sent to Mr. Jos. R. McElroy, 205 
South 6th St., Philadelphia. 
From numerous letters received we infer 
that many are collecting solely for the sake of 
possession. While it is of course desirable 
that each collection be complete as possible, 
collecting in this way is like an ignorant man 
buying books—he may admire rich binding 
and have sufficient artistic sense to appreciate 
harmonizing colors, but he cannot derive in- 
tellectual enjoyment therefrom. So in collect- 
| ing, unless the young student carefully investi- 
gates the character and habits of each little 
specimen, his collection can never be anything 
more than a toy, beautiful perhaps, but lacking 
that broad educational power that individual 
investigation alone will bring. 
Very satisfactory results have been obtained 
by some collectors of shells in studying certain 
genera, and after an apparent limit has been 
reached, in turning their attention to others. 
| Such a course does not result in a general 
| knowledge of Conchology, which is far more 
desirable, but has a tendency to make its fol- 
lowers authorities on the groups studied. In 
certain localities no better result can be ob- 
tained owing to geographical features, but all 
things being equal, it is better for the young 
to have a good general conchological education 
| than to confine their attention to a_ single 
branch of the study and to fail through lack. 
of material. Just here is where our paper 
helps to bring you into communication with 
the rest of the shell world and is a useful 
medium for you to trade ideas as wellas shells. 
Do not hesitate to use 1t. We wish our young 
_ friends to feel they own a share in this Corner 
of our paper, and while we cannot promise 
to publish all we receive, every communication 
_ will have our careful personal consideration 
and we will endeavor to make room at least 
for extracts from those displaying most careful 
and original investigation. 
