Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.3)

Oct. 1836. ADVicE TO COLLECTORS. 599 entered in the catalogue, so that if hereafter its locaUty be doubted, the collector may say in good truth, " Every speci- men of mine was ticketed on the spot." Any thing which is folded up in paper, or put into a separate box, ought to have a number on the outside (with the exception perhaps of geological specimens), but more especiallj^ a duplicate num- ber on the inside attached to the specimen itself. A series of small numbers should be printed from to 5000 ; a stop must be added to those numbers which can be read upside down (as 699. or 86.). It is likewise convenient to have the different thousands printed on differently coloured paper, so that when vmpacking, a single glance tells the approximate number. For specimens in spirits of wine, I found the following plan answered admirably : Get a set of steel dies from to 9, a small punch, and some sheets of trebly-t\\\c\L tinfoil. The numbers may at any time be stamped in a line, with a hole punched in front of each, and then cut off with a pair of scissors as wanted. These tickets cost little trouble in making, and do not corrode. Each specimen in spirits should be loosely folded up in very open gauze, or some such stuff; the string which ties up the corners may likewise secure the number. Use nothing but glass jars ; but these are difficult to be obtained of any size out of Europe. Jars of earthenware, and wooden casks, either leak, or allow of evaporation ; and when such are used, it is not easy to know whether the specimens are too much crowded (a very com- mon fault), or in what state the spirit is in, which through glass can be judged of by its colour. Bear in mind, that in nine out of ten specimens which are spoiled, it is owing to the spirit being too weak. The jars should be closed with a bung covered by bladder, twice by common tinfoil, and by bladder again ; let the bladder soak till half putrid. I found this plan quite worth the trouble it cost. Few, excepting those who have travelled in ships, know the extreme inconvenience of want of room ; and on this much depends : but if it be practicable, keep three or four sets of