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

Oct. 1836. ADVICE TO COLLECTORS. 601 Likewise slightly brush over all dried plants with the solu- tion. For collecting insects use a plain strong sweeping-net, and pack the specimens of all orders, excepting lepidoptera, between layers of rag in pill-boxes, placing at the bottom a bit of camphor ; this costs scarcely any trouble, and the insects, especially thousands of unknown minute ones, arrive in an excellent state. Take a good stock of chip pill-boxes a simple plain strong microscope, such as that long ago described by Ellis — a good stock of lace-needles, with glass tubes and sealingwax, for the purpose of making dissecting instruments. I need not mention small collecting bottles covered with leather, tin boxes, dissecting scissors, blowpipe case, compasses, mountain barometer, &c. I should recom- mend a sort of work-box fitted up to hold watch-glasses, glass micrometers, pins, string, printed numbers, &c.; and I found a small cabinet with drawers, some lined with cork, and others with cross partitions, most useful as a temporary storehouse. ^ Pack up for shipment every specimen of exiery kind in boxes lined with tinned plates, and soldered together : if the case be large the specimens should further i^e packed into light pasteboard or other boxes, for by long pressure even skins of quadrupeds are injured. On no account whatever put bottles with spirits of wine, though ever so well packed, in the same case with other specimens, for if one should break every thing near it will be spoiled, as I found to my cost in one instance. When limited either in time, funds, or space, let not the collector crowd too many specimens either into one bottle, or into one case. For he should constantly bear in mind as his second motto, that " It is better to send home a few things well preserved, than a multitude in a bad condition .^^ As long as due steps are taken that the harvest may not be spoiled, let him not be disheartened, because he may for a long time be labouring by himseK; let him work hard from morning to night, for every day and every hour is precious