THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 245 



does not always bear an authenticity label. Against another 

 might be "latirena Dod" indicating one of a geographical race, and 

 another "malora Smith." The status of such names, and of others, 

 as decided upon by the owner, is explained in note-books and a 

 card index. A brief note is sometimes placed at the bottom of a 

 series, perhaps referring for comparison to some other species and 

 box. Points for future investigation are thus kept in mind. 



By no means the least valuable accessory to the collection 

 is a series of MSS books containing critical notes. All those 

 concerning North American species are indexed in a Smith's 

 1903 Check List, species described since its publication being 

 entered at intervals. That was the system primarily adopted, 

 and still adhered to, though the notes are now also indexed on a 

 card index referred to below. They consist largely of records 

 of impressions gained from inspection and studies of sundry other 

 collections, and include notes on all types seen, as well as details 

 concerning comparisons made With them, and any other facts about 

 collections or specimens examined deemed worthy of note. There are 

 a large number of entries concerning careful comparisons of Hamp- 

 son's published figures with the types or other specimens from 

 which they were taken, detailing any discrepancies in reproduction. 

 A considerable quantity of discovered synonymy, and corrections 

 of errors in identification by other authors are therein noted, 

 which have not yet been published. Nearly all except the earliest 

 notesbear dates of origin, and the same applies to those on the pin- 

 labels. Needless to say, of several notes taken of the same type 

 on different occasions, where inconsistencies appear, those of the 

 later dates carry most weight, being the result of a closer acquaint- 

 ance and better knowledge. These MSS books are primarily 

 for the author's own guidance and instruction, and, it must be 

 confessed, are scarcely a model of calligraphy. 



Another very useful accessory is a Card Index, containing 

 between four and five thousand cards, dealing almost exclusively 

 with Noctuidse. A card is allowed for each specific or varietal 

 name ever published of North American species included in Hamp- 

 son's catalogue from vols. IV to XIII. On the cards are entered: 



The name and its author, at the top. 



Reference to original description and date. 



