204 THE ANTARCTIC MANUAL. 
may be included the hour and the date when the specimen was got, 
as giving a rough indication of the relative positions of the different 
masses on the line of route. The specimen should then be wrapped 
in newspaper to prevent friction with others; and,as a measure of 
precaution against the loss of the note-book and also as a con- 
venience, the locality should be specified on the inside edge of the 
wrapper. It is also convenient if the wrappers of specimens from 
each particular district are distinguished by some external mark. 
The specimens may be stowed in manilla bags, which are then 
sewn sufficiently tightly to prevent the shaking about of the contents, 
Wooden boxes should be small and strong, for large boxes containing 
rock-specimens are almost unmanageable during transport. Paper 
or straw makes good packing material; but sawdust is useless, as the 
specimens accumulate at the bottom of the box with the sawdust 
above them. 
Minerals—The specimens which show the characters pertaining 
to mineral species and varieties in the most perfect way are found, 
not at the earth’s surface, but in the course of the working of mines 
and quarries. Specimens of simple minerals collected in an un- 
worked region like the Antarctic by a traveller having no special 
knowledge of mineralogy, are likely to be of little scientific interest, 
though precious stones, metals and ores will have an obvious 
economic value. 
A mineral specimen comprising delicate crystals should be wrapped 
first of all in soft tissue-paper, next in cotton-wool, and lastly in 
newspaper; it may then be enclosed separately in a small box, 
which may be put with others in a larger one. 
