fairly at the bottom; then haul it on board the boat should any obstruction-such as a : rock, etc., prevent its being brought home, place the canoe under the rope and pull her along until the place of obstruction is arrived at; then bring up the dredge, either straight or by taking it a little ! way back, and let those in the boat haul dredge and canoe towards them until clear of the obstacle: the dredge is to be let down again, and hauled in as before. When the dredge is brought alongside the boat, lift it in, and take out all the mud and sand; half fill the sieve with this, and pour a bucket of water gently on it, the party holding the sieve to shake it gently until all the mud and fine sand has passed through: take out all the larger shells as soon as possible, to prevent their breaking the more delicate ones, and put them into your basket, and the smaller ones into boxes. Should there be many small shells in the sieve, which would take much time picking out, it would be best to throw the sand from the sieve into a basket, and take it home, where it can be inspected more minutely, after having dried it in the sun on paper. The nearer the collector gets to a reef of rocks in sheltered places, the better for shells, as they will lie there for protection; but be careful to throw the dredge clear of the rocks, as it will save a deal of trouble. The dredge can be made 3 feet 6 inches long and 1 foot wide: the outer edge to be turned outwards about the angle of 30°, and beaten down rather fine: the lower part of the bar should not be less than half-an-inch thick, with holes punched in it from one end to the other, an inch and a-half apart, to lash the bag to: the bag can be fashioned according to the dredge, and made of double bread-bags. General Every specimen, dry or in spirit, should have a number attached to it, corresponding to one in the collector's note-book, in which he must enter his memoranda con cerning it; as for instance: The country where found, Habits, The season when, Habitat, Local name. The collector should be furnished with knives, scissors, scalpels, pliers, nets, a large assortment of pins of various sizes, needles, a hammer, small hatchet, packing-cases (large and small, including cork boxes for lepidoptera and other insects, and a great number of pill-boxes in nests), cotton and paper, and also with a folding-net, hoop-net, water-net, forceps, digger, glass phials, etc., for collecting insects; he must also have a good supply of prussic acid and arsenical soap. The composition and mode of making the latter is as Melt the soap completely with heat in a small quantity of water, and add the potash and lime; then remove it from the fire and stir in the arsenic; next add add the camphor, previously rubbed to powder, with a little spirit of wine, and mix the whole thoroughly: it should now have the consistence of paste. Preserve it in carefully-closed glazed vessels, labelled "POISON." To use it, mix the quantity required with cold water to the consistence of tolerably clear soup, and apply it with a brush to the inside of the skins. CHAPTER XI. THE FOREST AND THE MOUNTAIN. Pleasing Recollections-The Primeval Forest-The Fascinations of a Hunter's Life-A Forest Ranger's Qualifications-Forest Scenery-Woodland Streams-Forest Creatures-The Forest during the Different Periods of the Day and NightThe Voices of the Woods-The Ever-changing Face of Nature-Instinct of Animals-Variety of Character-The Language of Animals- -"Breathings of Nature"- Weird Music-A Hunter's Lullaby-Mountain Scenery-Mountain Life-The Mountaineer-The Highest Altitudes. THE forest! How many pleasing recollections of heart-stirring events are associated with that name; how many a glorious day's sport does it recall to mind; how many a dear friend does it bring before me with whom I have bearded the tiger in his lair, tracked the mighty elephant to his haunt in its inmost recesses, and there despoiled him of his trophies. Many a hand I then |