Nabih, You can place tiny specimens in a small, cylindrical vial with cotton to keep them from rattling around too much. Then you can apply a line of white enamel paint to the outside of the glass; when the paint dries in a day or so, write the catalog number on the paint surface in India ink. For really tiny shells, I use micropaleontology slides. You should be able to find them on the Web. They have a cardboard base with a recessed area in black with a numbered grid printed in white. A meat holder and glass slide complete the ensemble. >From: Nabih <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: Conchologists List <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: Micro Shells >Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2006 18:49:20 +0200 > >Beside collecting micro shells on shores, there is the technique, well >illustrated by Mr Mifsud, of collecting the weeds & particles retained >in fishermen's nets, allowing the collection of live shells & the >determination of the medium they were living in. The only problem is to >be allowed to board a trawling ship. > >Another technique, well illustrated in books about shells is the >deep-sea "carotte" specimen, also allowing the determination of the >living medium of the shells, specialy from the depths. I think, even, that >the carotte are sold as is. > >I've to admit that I never practised these two techniques but rather >collected micro shells on the beaches, using a magnifying glass. > >Using stack of sieves is, indeed, practical and I should try it, but >prefer to do it at home or else I will have a queue of onloockers >staring at me, and perhaps a policeman asking me what am I doing. > >My question, at this point, is how to range and mark these tiny creature. > >Finaly I have to admit that I was touched by this mail as it reminded me >of the late Rachel Carson, writer of the first book I red about the sea >"The Sea Around Us" which was the reason I came to love the sea. >-- >Nabih <[log in to unmask]> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs To leave this list, click on the following web link: http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1 Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and click leave the list. ----------------------------------------------------------------------