[23] COLLECTING AND PREPARING FOSSILS SCHUCHERT. 



Mr. T. W. Stanton recommends the following process for soft fossils: 



In soft fossils that are too fragile to remove from the matrix, such as those from 

 the Cretaceous marls, the process of cleaning and hardening must be carried on at 

 the same time. As soon as a small portion of the surface has been cleaned by means 

 of lithographers' needles or dental tools, it is brushed with the shellac solution and 

 set aside to dry. This process is repeated until the entire surface has been exposed, 

 and afterwards in many cases the shell can be entirely removed from the matrix. 

 If this is not practicable, the marl on which it rests should be trimmed and the 

 whole mass dipped in the shellac solution. 



METHODS OP RECORDING FOSSILS. 



In all large collections the most desirable feature is that each fossil 

 shall bear its systematic name, formation, locality, when and by whom 

 collected. These facts can not, for obvious reasons, be written on each 

 specimen, therefore more simple and less expensive methods are resorted 

 to to accomplish this purpose. There are two methods in use by various 

 large institutions, one of which is preliminary and the other of a per- 

 manent nature. Quite often both systems are applied to the same 

 specimen for reasons explained below. 



Preliminary record. — After the fossils have been washed and hard- 

 ened, the preliminary recording should be taken up, since the fossils are 

 as yet unstudied and unassorted, and may remain in this condition for 

 many years, during which time it may happen that the field label, con- 

 taining the most important information, is lost. To guard against such 

 accidents and the additional one of getting fossils mixed during the 

 work of separation and study of extended faunas and floras, Prof. 

 James Hall adopted the plan of giving the field label a record number. 

 Each label is carefully copied opposite a given number in the "locality 

 record book." In it should be entered for each lot the detailed position 

 of the locality, formation, date when collected, and the name of the 

 collector. Never enter two lots under the same number, if derived at 

 different times, even though from the same locality. As they come in 

 the lots can be entered and numbered under continuous numbers, or 

 certain series of numbers may be allotted to each system. Differently 

 colored "tickets" can be used to diifereutiate Paleozoic from Mesozoic 

 and Cenozoic fossils. However, such details will vary with the needs 

 or tastes of each individual worker or institution, but each lot must 

 invariably have its own register number. 



Now punch out of paper having a prepared colored surface (green, 

 oj?ange, etc.,) circular tickets five-sixteenths of an inch in diameter. 

 Upon these write very plainly with waterproof india ink the locality 

 number given in the register to the lot in question. Stick these with 

 liquid gum arable or a prepared glue on each fossil in places where 

 nothing of importance structurally will be covered, or in any out of the 

 way places. If this "ticketing " is carefully done, specimens from many 

 localities, without any labels, can be gathered for study into a single tray, 

 and yet these little tickets will preserve the history of each individual 



