THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 7B 



ing, naming, and placing in classified order. This can be remedied by 

 the present-day collector, professional or amateur. It seems strange that 

 a method of labeling similar to what I shall illustrate has not become 

 more general. On hunting up bibliographic references on the subject in 

 my own library I found little instruction. In The Entomologist's Useful 

 Companion, by Geo. Samoiielle, London, 181Q, the author directs that 

 each specimen shall have a number corresponding with that of a cata- 

 logue having an account of the place where found, time of appearance, 

 etc. The Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture, U.S.A., for 1868, 

 contained an article on Practical Entomology for Farmers^ Sons, recom- 

 mending the same method, with the improvement of having the numbers 

 on coloured disks ; the different States or localities being represented 

 by a certain colour. These methods are unsatisfactory, as they show 

 nothing without the catalogue, and when a collection leaves the original 

 owner's possession it is often divided up, and the catalogue is lost sight 

 of. It is surprising that among the many handbooks and guides pub- 

 lished there is so little mentioned on this subject. Even that indispen- 

 sable work, Entomology for Beginners, by A. S. Packard, M. D., Ph. D., 

 New York, i8go, recommends only the coloured number disks. The 

 most satisfactory directions are those of Samuel H. Scudder in his Butter- 

 flies, their Structure, Changes and Life Histories, Neiu York, i88g, 

 namely : " Every pinned specimen, excepting such as illustrate anatomy 

 only, should bear upon the pin a label giving the place and date of 

 capture, and when necessary a number referring to a catalogue or note- 

 book in which memoranda may be entered to any extent that may be 

 desired." In other words, these particulars become part and parcel of the 

 specimen, so that whenever the insect or object is moved, its history goes 

 with it. In this way the collector makes his collection an index to his 

 outdoor observation and study, and on leaving his possession will be of 

 great interest as well as value to the next owner. 



Each collector can devise a form of label for such purpose to suit 

 his own taste as well as convenience. Disks of stiff paper the size of a 

 ten cent piece make neat labels for those who write a small hand. On 

 these, I put the catalogue reference number, tlie locality where found, 

 the date of capture, and sometimes the distinction of sex, by using the 

 usual astronomical signs in general use, namel}', that of Mars ^ for the 

 male and of Venus $ for the female and the sign ° for the neuter or 

 worker. By having different coloured paper for each locality, one can 

 see at once all those belonging to the same district in a case. 



