394 COLLECTINa LAND AND FEESH-WATER SHELLS. 



in water ; the shells may then be rinsed, when they are ready for final treat 

 ment, with or without alcohol. 



Some shells of considerable size may have the soft parts removed after hav- 

 ing been in alcohol a few hours ; but having been several days in alcohol (unless 

 it is of low proof) the soft parts do not disengage so readily. Among the shells 

 to which this mode of treatment best applies are land shells with an elevated 

 spire, aquatic species with a short but elevated spire, and freshwater limpets. 



It is not recommended to retain shells in alcohol a great many days, unless if; 

 be for the preservation of the soft parts for anatomical investigation. If too 

 long retained in alcohol the shells acquire' a dark, smoky look that diminishes 

 their beauty. 



INCIDENTAL REMARKS. 



W'th the result of his labor before him the collector desires such information 

 respecting his shells as will enhance the pleasure and other advantages he ex- 

 pects to derive from them. He also • desires that they should present, in the 

 most obvious manner, all their intrinsic beauties. Perhaps he forgets that they 

 are most beautiful as nature made them, and seeks to improve them by varnish- 

 ing. Such shells as the collector designs to preserve in his own cabinet he may 

 varnish if he pleases ; but should he desire to acquire other specimens by ex- 

 changing his duplicates with a friend, let them be without varnish or any arti- 

 ficial treatment other than judicious cleaning. 



In arranging a series of species in his cabinet the collector, if unacquainted with 

 their names, may group his species according to those analogies and obvious 

 resemblances that show their relations to each other. He should attach a label 

 to each species, designating it by a number until he has opportunity to replace 

 the number with the specific name. The label should have upon it the locality 

 where found, and any other facts that might be of remarkable interest to the 

 naturalist. The numbers he attaches to his species may serve as the means of 

 ascertaining names by correspondence. Each species should be marked, so that 

 no confusion may arise by displacement of labels. 



Should the collector find it convenient to correspond with some other person 

 similarly engaged, or should he desire to transmit a package of shells to some 

 friend or to some public institution, a few euggestions relative to packing shells 

 for transportation may be of use. Obtain a sufficiently strong box of suitable 

 capacity ; on the bottom should be laid a thin bed of soft hay, or some other 

 suitable elastic material. The larger shells (if such are to form a part of the 

 contents of the package) should form the lower tiers in packing. Each shell 

 should be wrapped in paper, and the specimens should be so compactly stowed 

 as not to shake about. The lighter shells should occupy the upper portion of 

 the package, and those of a fragile nature should be protected from the possi- 

 bility of fracture by being enveloped in cotton and enclosed in suitable small 

 boxes. Small paper bags or cartridges may serve to contain minute species ; 

 but a more satisfactory mode is to wrap them in cotton and put them in small 

 paper boxes, such as may be purchased at any drug store. Each species should 

 be appropriately labelled, giving, in legible characters, the generic and specific 

 name of the shell, if known, after which should be written the name of the 

 author by whom the species was published ; under this should follow the locality 

 where found. Any vacant space at the top of the package may be filled with 

 any light material that will serve to keep the contents of the package from 

 shaking about after the box is closed. The top of the box should be carefully 

 nailed secure, and plainly marked with the address of the person to whom it is 

 to be forwarded, also designating the mode of conveyance for the guidance of 

 parties to whom it is delivered for shipment. 



