GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS 6 



States National Museum, a branch of the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion, throughout its existence has received large and valuable 

 additions to its collections from service men in many regions and 

 stands ready always to identify and provide information on 

 plants and animals of all kinds. Special arrangements are offered 

 for such identifications in connection with that work of the Army 

 and Navy Medical Corps which deals with insects, mollusks, 

 mammals, and other creatures that may harbor or carry disease- 

 bearing agents that affect man. These same arrangements may be 

 utilized for specimens that have interest for themselves alone. 



The collections of the United States National Museum are 

 among the most extensive and valuable that exist anywhere in 

 the world, but many gaps exist in its series of all kinds of 

 materials. The collections grow steadily through the interest of 

 friends of the Museum, and studies based on them add constantly 

 to human knowledge. Specimens from any foreign regions make 

 valuable additions, and there are still many places in the United 

 States from which collections are desirable. 



GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS 



Specimens of various kinds are often wanted in series, but never 

 collect more of any kind than can be properly preserved or used. 

 To take more than needed is useless waste, particularly where 

 specimens are killed. Such action, besides being needlessly destruc- 

 tive, may prevent others from obtaining specimens or may even 

 cause disappearance of the supply. 



Labels. — Ail specimens should be accompanied by labels giving 

 the necessary information regarding the place, date, collector. 



