ABSTRACT
The conservation of biological collections differs from the conservation of objects of art and antiquity in a number of respects. First, animals and plants are usually collected live and the process of preparing them for the museum is termed ‘preservation’ rather than ‘conservation’. This often involves several stages, including collecting, narcotization, killing, fixing and preserving. In the natural sciences the term ‘conservation’ is used normally to describe treatment after preservation, made necessary by either shortcomings in the preservation process or damage caused by inappropriate conditions of storage and inadequate maintenance. Second, the preservation method employed often depends on whether a specimen is destined to be used for exhibition or research. In mounting a specimen for exhibition, much of its scientific value might be lost, due to the preservation method employed. Third, in many instances parts of the object are discarded, retaining only those parts which are easily preserved and which embody diagnostic features.
