282 ON COLLECTIiNG SHELLS. 



with a mixture, two-thirds best alcohol and one-third water and 

 well corked. If these bottles are flattened oval, they may be 

 carried in waistcoat-pockets, and will always be convenient of 

 access. 



A pair of dissecting forceps, of medium size. These will be 

 found useful in picking up loose small shells, in taking them 

 from crevices in bark, old logs, etc. The point of a pen-knife 

 answers equally well if skilfully handled. This is a " knack " 

 to be acquired by practice. 



Two or three flattish boxes, of difi'erent sizes, that will readily 

 slip in and out of the coat-pockets. 



A rake made as follows : Having a head made of good oak or 

 hickory, about nine inches long, and one inch by one and a half 

 inches. In the centre make an oval hole for the handle, one inch 

 long and one-half an inch or more wide. Put two blunt teeth, 

 each two and a half inches long, exclusive of the part in the head, 

 on each side of the handle, so placing the holes bored to receive 

 them as to make the space between the teeth equal. Make the 

 teeth of the toughest seasoned hickory. Make of tlie same 

 material, a smooth, straight handle, twent,y inches long, with one 

 end exactly fitted to the hole in the head. This end should 

 project through the head at least three-fourths of an inch. It 

 should be bound by a narrow ferrule, so set into the wood as to 

 permit the handle to slip into the head readily. A hole for a 

 small steel spring-key should be made between the ferrule and the 

 rake-head, and so close to each that the key, when in place, shall 

 rest against the ferrule on one side and the rake-head on the other. 

 When not in use the rake can be taken apart by withdrawing the 

 key, and the whole implement can be carried in the coat-pockets. 

 This instrument is indispensable ; with it a hill-side may be rapidly 

 raked over, or any other ground inhabited by land-shells, and, 

 if the hands are covered by buck-skin gloves, briar-patches and 

 other forbidding localities may be explored, and they are often 

 very productive. As much surface can be worked over, with 

 this implement, in half an hour, with perfect comfort and clean- 

 liness, and without injury to the hands, as in half a day using 

 the fingers only, and regions can be examined that it would be 

 impossible to explore without it. 



A small tool, made like a hatchet, with a narrow blade at one 

 end, and somewhat hooked and pointed at the other, after the 

 fashion of a geologist's pick, is very convenient for picking and 

 hacking in pieces old logs, cutting away brush, pulling over 

 stones, etc. No other tools are necessary or even desirable. 



Being provided with these implements, you have only to sally 

 forth, and with perseverance you will succeed in finding whatever 

 a given locality is likely to produce. Having found the speci- 

 mens, transfer all the smaller ones to the alcohol. Shells of 



