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ADVICE TO COLLECTORS. 



Oct. 1836. 



bottles open at the same time, so that one may serve for 

 Crustacea, another for animals for dissection, another for 

 minute specimens, another for fish, always putting the latter 

 into the strongest spirit. Any how it is absolutely neces- 

 sary to keep a couple of receiving bottles in which every 

 thing can at first be put, and afterwards transferred to the 

 permanent bottles with fresh spirits. Without assistance 

 from government, and plenty of room, it is most dishearten- 

 ing work to attempt to bring home many specimens in 

 spirits, although without doubt in such a state they are very 

 far the most valuable. I should recommend any one 

 circumstanced as T was to preserve the skins only of large 

 fish and reptiles. But with room and means at command, 

 let the collector place no limit to the number of his glass 

 jars. 



With respect to the catalogues it is inconvenient to have 

 many ; but there must at least be two, one for the tin labels 

 or specimens in spirits, and another for the paper numbers, 

 which should be applied indiscriminately to every kind of 

 specimen. If the observer has any particular branch to 

 which he devotes nmch attention, a third catalogue exclu- 

 sively for such specimens is desirable : I kept a third for 

 geological specimens and fossils. In a like manner notes 

 should be as simple as possible : I kept one set for geology, 

 and another for zoological and all other observations. It is 

 well to endeavour to write upon separate pages remarks on 

 different specimens ; for much copying will thus be saved. 

 My journal was likewise kept distinct from the other sub- 

 jects. I found an arrangement carried thus far very useful: 

 a traveller by land would, I suppose, be obliged to adopt a 

 still more simple plan. 



Use arsenical soap* for all skins, but do not neglect to 

 brush the legs and beak with a solution of corrosive sublimate. 



* Seeds must not be sent home in the same case with skins prepared 

 with poison, camphor, or essential oils ; scarcely any of mine germinated, 

 and Professor Henslow thinks they were thus killed. 



