220 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



out on the ground and staking down one side, the front flaps are then brought 

 together and a stake driven in them, the other side and back are pinned down 

 when the ridge-pole and uprights are put in, and the tent raised. Then the 

 stakes for the walls are driven and tlie tent stretched by means of guy-ropes, 

 when all is ready for the reception of the baggage. On making a bed a rubber 

 blanket is first laid on the ground — rubber down — one pair of blankets are doub- 

 led length-ways and laid down and the other pair is used to cover the occupant. 

 I find it valuable to have a narrow mattress of " excelsior," as it makes a most 

 comfortable bed and adds but little to the weight on the road; mattress and 

 blankets are rolled up and securely strapped. 



On going into the field the collector takes a pick, butcher-knife and collect- 

 ing-bag, with plenty of paper, string and cotton. When a specimen is discovered 

 the first thing to be done is to collect all the fragments and dig up the debris for 

 others which should all be carefully preserved. The rock above the specimen is 

 then removed to within a short distance of the bones, and they are traced out by 

 means of a butcher-knife. The bones should never be fully exposed, as the field 

 is not the place to study anatomy. The idea of exposing a small portion of the 

 bones is to show one where he can cut out his slabs. This is done by digging 

 a trench the width of the pick three or four inches in depth, the slab is then 

 loosened by striking carefully all around the specimen. 



In packing, cover the exposed bones with cotton, the slab with dry grass and 

 bind strongly with twine. Cover with burlap and sew securely. For packing in 

 boxes put in plenty of dry grass in the bottom and put in the slabs on edge, tamp 

 down grass between them and the edges of the box with a mallet and wooden 

 spatula, have plenty of grass next the cover and bind the box with strap-iron. 



When the bones are in loose sand great care should be exercised in laying 

 bare the bones, not to remove any until all the limbs are uncovered, then make 

 a sketch on strong paper, marking each bone and the corresponding one on the 

 sketch. If the bones are broken in places mark a cross with colored crayon and 

 make a sketch showing the breaks numbering all the sections which should be 

 taken out separately and wrapped, the wrapper bearing a corresponding number. 



Never attempt to take out a wet or damp specimen, as it will surely fall to 

 pieces. All specimens should be allowed to lay exposed to the sun and wind as 

 long as possible. Pack each limb (properly marked to correspond with sketch,) 

 by itself. The skull should be wrapped in cotton and strong paper, and then 

 carefully bound with strong twine. A burlap sack is then ripped open and plenty 

 of dry grass laid over it, the skull is put in and the ends brought together and 

 carefully sewed. The greatest care should be used in marking, each specimen 

 should bear a tag with number, date, locality, formation and collection, and if it 

 is necessary to use more than one sack have a similar label on each, be sure to 

 wrap all fragments broken off with the bone to which they belong. 



Fishes are among the most difficult specimens to preserve, the bones are 

 very frail and splinter so badly that it is almost impossible to restore them. 

 Where the upper surface is laid bare the bones should be carefully brushed off, 



