When you have arranged your specimens in the order above indicated,
proceed to place them in your boxes, arranging and labelling them after
the manner shown in the accompanying diagram.
+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
| Class. | | | | |
+----------+ Species. | Species. | Species. | Species. |
| Order. | | | | |
+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
| Family | | | | |
| Name. | | | | |
+----------+ Species. | Species. | Species. | Species. |
| Generic | | | | |
| Name. | | +----------+ |
+----------+----------+----------+ Family +----------+
| | | | Name. | |
| Species. | Species. | Species. +----------+ Species. |
| | | | Generic | |
+----------+----------+----------+ Name. +----------+
| | | +----------+ |
| | Generic | | | |
| Species. | Name. | Species. | Species. | Species. |
| | | | | |
+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
| | | | | Generic |
| Species. | Species. | Species. | Species. | Name. |
| | | | | |
+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
| | | Generic | | |
| Species. | Species. | Name. | Species. | Species. |
| | | | | |
+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
| | | | | |
| Species. | Species. | Species. | Species. | Species. |
| | | | | |
+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
On the lid, or on a slip of paper or card placed at the head of your
columns of trays, write the class and order, with its proper number
(I., II., etc., as the case may be); then at the top of your left-hand
column place the family and its number, and under it the name of the
first genus. The species (one in each tray) come next, then the name
of the next genus following it, succeeded by its species, and so on.
The object of the young collector should be to obtain examples of as
many _genera_ as possible, since a collection in which a great number
of genera are represented is far more useful and instructive than one
composed of a great many species referable to but few genera. He will
also find it very convenient to separate the British Shells from his
general collection, sub-dividing them for convenience into "Land and
Fresh-water," and "Marine." Of these he should endeavour to get every
species, and even variety, making the thing as complete as possible.
Or a separate collection may be made of all those kinds which he can
find within a certain distance of his own home. A collection of this
sort possesses, in addition to its scientific worth, an interest of
its own, owing to the local associations that invariably connect
themselves with it.
TABLE OF SOME OF THE MORE IMPORTANT GENERA, SHOWING THE APPROXIMATE
NUMBER OF SPECIES BELONGING TO EACH GENUS AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION.