134 
NOTES ON COLLECTING MINERALS. 
the specimen belonged is preserved, the specimen itself generally 
becomes valueless; for this and other reasons water- worn pebbles 
are not worthy of transport. Hence it is important to specify as 
precisely as possible the place from which each specimen has been 
broken, and also to take precautions against the possibility of a 
subsequent confusion of the specimens. For this purpose a gummed 
label should be fastened on each specimen immediately after it has 
been trimmed, and a number should be written thereon referring to 
a corresponding entry in a note-book in which all the memoranda 
relative to the locality and the specimen are recorded : among 
these 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 convenience, 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. 
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. 
Before collecting specimens which offer such difficulties as regards 
transport, the traveller will do well to spend some time in the 
Mineral Gallery, and to see for himself the kind of material which 
is found useful for exhibition and study. 
