PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 
Iisr past, years the Museum collections have been greatly 
augmented and enriched by the donation of valuable series 
of specimens obtained by travellers and others whose vocations 
have necessitated their residence abroad in all parts of the 
world. 
It often happens that military and naval officers, explorers, 
missionaries, and others have leisure time which they would 
be willing to devote to collecting natural history objects if 
they had a better knowledge of the manner in which such 
things should be collected and preserved. 
In order to meet this requirement, it has been thought 
advisable to prepare a series of pamphlets treating upon the 
collecting and preservation of specimens in all branches of 
natural history. These can be obtained separately; but lor 
the convenience and use of those who are willing to take up 
more than one branch of collecting, they are now united and 
issued in book form, thus forming an introductory manual 
of instructions on the subject generally. 
Although primarily written for the use of voluntary 
collectors, this work will prove equally useful to those 
professionally engaged in collecting, as showing the approved 
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