DIRECTIONS FOR THE MINERALOGICAL AND GEOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS. 
11 
fill the kettle. Unless this he done, and any unoccupied space thus filled up, the specimens 
will be washed against the sides of the vessel and much injured. 
5. Small bags made of lino , of different sizes, and open at one end. These are intended, in 
the first place, to separate the specimens of different localities from each other; and, in the 
second place, to secure them from mutual friction, or other injury. The number or name cor¬ 
responding to the locality is to be marked on the outside with red chalk, or written with ink on 
a slip of parchment and dropped inside. The specimens are then to be placed in the bag, a 
string tied around the open end, and the bag thrown into alcohol. The ink of the parchment 
must be dry before the slip is moistened in any way. 
hi. B.—Fishes and reptiles over five or six inches in length should have a small incision 
made in the abdomen, to facilitate the introduction of the alcohol. Larger snakes and small 
quadrupeds may be skinned, and the skins placed in alcohol. 
6 . Bed chalk pencils, for marking the bags. 
7. Parchment , to serve as labels for the bags. This may also be cut into labels and fastened 
by strings to such specimens as are not suited for the bags. 
8 . Small seines, for catching fishes in small streams. The two ends should be fastened to 
brails or sticks, (hoe-handles answer well,) which are taken in the hands of two persons, and 
the net drawn both up and down stream. Fishes may often be caught by stirring up the 
gravel or small stones in a stream, and drawing the net rapidly down the current. Bushes or 
holes along the banks may be enclosed by the nets, and stirred so as to drive out the fishes, 
which usually lurk in such localities. 
9. Casting-net. This is sent only to the permanent station. 
10. Alcohol. About five gallons to each travelling party. This should be about eighty per 
cent, in strength, and medicated by the addition of one ounce of tartar emetic to one gallon of 
alcohol, to prevent its being surreptitiously drunk. 
11. Arsenic , in two-pound tea canisters. This may be applied to the moist skins of birds and 
quadrupeds, either dry or mixed with alcohol. 
12. Tartar emetic, for medicating the alcohol as above. 
13. Cotton, for stuffing out the heads of birds and mammals. To diminish the bulk, but 
little should be put into the bodies of animals. The skulls of the quadrupeds had better be 
removed from the skins, but carefully preserved. 
14. Paper, for wrapping up the skins of birds and small quadrupeds, each separately. The 
paper supplied for botanical purposes will answer for this. 
15. Butcher knife, scissors, needles and thread, for skinning and sewing up animals. 
16. Blank labels of paper for marking localities, sex, &c., and tying to the legs of the dried 
skins. 
17. Portfolio for collecting plants. 
18. Press for drying plants between the blotting paper. Pressure is applied by straps. 
19. Very absorbent paper for drying plants. 
20 . Stijferpaper for collecting plants in the field. The same paper to be used for wrapping 
skins of birds and quadrupeds, as well as minerals and fossils. 
21. Small bottles for collecting and preserving insects. 
22 . Geological hammer. 
23. Fine shot for birds. About Ho. 9 is most convenient for the purpose. 
Washington, April 20 , 1853. 
Sir: In compliance with your request, I have the honor to submit, briefly and simply, a few 
suggestions for the guidance of your several corps, such as in my judgment will best serve to 
develop the mineral and agricultural resources of the interesting but comparatively unexplored 
region of country assigned to you for examination. 
