ON COLLECTING AND PRESERVING SHELLS. 115 
valves, after the animal has been extracted, should be closed and tied 
together. If the ligament of a gaping Bivalve should become dry 
and stiff, it can be softened by putting it in water. 
4. The localities in which each species is found should be noted, 
and, in the case of dredging, the depth of water. 
With regard to the mode of packing shells for transport : — 
All solid shells may be wrapped in one or two folds of paper of 
any kind. Fragile and minute shells should be put, generally 
separately, into a box or bottle — with or without cotton, as required. 
Such packets may be heaped up in any box, heavy shells at the 
bottom, without pressure, and any blank at the top filled with paper 
or other elastic material. Sawdust injures the lustre of many 
species. 
