DRYING- AND STORAGE OF SPECIMENS. 247 



Science Gossip and tlie Conchological Journal, by Mr. G. Slierriff 

 Tye and otliers. 



Glue is sufficient to fix all these objects in their places on 

 rockwork, in cases ; resins, such as mastic or shellac, or any of 

 the cements mentioned in Chapter TV., pp. 88, 89, are, however, 

 the best mediums to fix such objects upon tablets for scientific 

 purposes. For fixing shells on labelled cards, Mr. Woodward 

 recommends gum arabic, with one-sixth of its bulk of pure 

 glycerine added to it, which makes a semi-elastic cement, with 

 the advantage also of allowing the shells to be taken from their 

 tablets, at any time, by the intervention of hot water. 



Drying and Storage of Specimens. — It is always a vexed 

 question how to keep newly-mounted specimens free from 

 moths, and flies, and dust, whilst drying. The difficulty is, 

 that you cannot put them away at once in boxes, cases, or 

 shades, for if you do they do not dry at all, but " sweat " 

 and slowly rot, or else become mildewed. If you expose them 

 fully without any covering, they are soon covered with dust, 

 and liable at any moment to — first, the attacks of meat flies, 

 and next of moths and beetles. Good insect powder is, as I 

 have before pointed out, a deterrent; still, to make assurance 

 doubly sure, I would always, in the case of valuable specimens, 

 enclose them in square cages, made one side of glass, and 

 the three other sides and top of fine meshed muslin, wirework, 

 or perforated zinc, the latter sufficiently fine not to allow small 

 moths and flies to creep in. These can be made of various sizes, 

 can be varied by having a top and back of wood, can have the 

 front to open like a meat safe with shelves, or be simply cases 

 to lift over the specimens like shades ; in any case, however, 

 the front glass allows you to see how all is going on, and the 

 wire sides permit a free current of air to pass through to 

 dry the specimens. In this manner I have been enabled to 

 laugh at the little wretches of insects buzzing around, and 

 flattening their noses against the zinc, in vain endeavours to 

 interview some charming specimens of young birds, whose 

 "fluffy" plumage they delight in. Like the cats, they are 

 " so fond of noticing those dear little birds ! " 



Skins not in constant use for reference should, when 

 dried, be wrapped in soft paper amidst insect powder, and 



