30 THE CHICAGO ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 
that the hinge ligament will not be injured. In the case of 
shells having an epidermis, they may be greased with vaseline 
to prevent cracking when dry. Care should be used not to 
apply it ‘in too large quantities or the shells will feel greasy. 
After applying the vaseline it should be thoroughly rubbed in 
with a flannel rag and all surplus grease removed. Small gas- 
tropods need not be removed from the shell, but may be put in 
alcoho] for fifteen or twenty minutes, after which they may be 
dried and placed in the cabinet. The collector will undoubtedly 
find numerous ways of improving his cleaning and preserving 
methods, as experience dictates. 
The methods of labeling need not be dwelt upon here. All 
manner of schemes are used by conchologists in mounting and 
preparing specimens for the cabinet. Some use cardboard 
labels with a space for the specimens and another for the name, 
etc.; others simply use pasteboard trays, allowing the shells to re- 
main loose instead of attaching them as in the case of the card- 
board tablets. In the collections of The Chicago Academy of 
Sciences all specimens are attached to these tablets and they 
present a handsome appearance; but this is hardly feasible for 
the cabinet of a private collector, for lack of room. A good 
cabinet of drawers three inches in depth will suffice for most of 
the land and fresh-water shells, although several deeper draw- 
ers may be found useful for large unios. In writing the labels 
the generic and specific names and the authority for the name 
should occupy the first line, and the locality and name of the 
person from whom the specimens were received may occupy 
the balance of the label; the bottom of the latter might be 
used to advantage for short notes relating to the habits or 
peculiarities of the individuals in the tray. 
The following sample shows the manner of doing this: 
No. 197. Sex Date 6-14-95. 
Unio LUTEoLUS Lamarck. 
Set showing variation due to age. 
Calumet Lake near Pullman. 
Coll. by John Smith. 
Found in a muddy bottom on a sloping shore, 
in two feet of water. Specimens plentiful. 
It is always a good idea to keep a catalogue of the collec- 
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