64 BULLETIN 67, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



write labels in as small a hand as can be read without a lens. It 

 looks badly in a collection to see unnecessarily large labels. 



A method was devised by Mr. Hinds for photographing typewritten 

 labels. He describes it as follows: "When a series of labels for a 

 new locality, food plant, or collector is desired, the typewriter is 

 used to write out in columns each desired label a proportionate 

 number of times. A black ribbon is used, with clear white paper. 

 If possible each column should be composed throughout its length 

 of the same number of spaces, and a single space is sufficient to sep- 

 arate the columns. Attention to these points facilitates the cutting 

 up of the labels. Prints are made * upon a special portrait paper, 

 and if the work of negative making and printing has been well done 

 a very good, durable label may thus be obtained." 



It is sometimes necessary with long words to abbreviate the name 

 of the town. One should be very careful not to abbreviate more 

 than absolutely necessary, and then in such a way that there can 

 be no mistake about the name. For example, for New Rochelle, 

 "New Roch." is better than "N. Rchll." It is better to have a long 

 label than one winch may be misunderstood. Some collectors like 

 to have small printed labels with the specific name of the insect, 

 sometimes abbreviated, pinned to each specimen near the end of 

 the pin ; it facilitates rearrangement and exchanging. 



For keeping notes and records of specimens in a book, a number 

 should be attached to the specimen corresponding to the number in 

 the note book, but the locality label should never be omitted from 

 these specimens. In some groups of insects it is necessary to use 

 other labels. Insects reared from galls, for example, should have a 

 number connecting them with the gall, and if any part of the insect 

 has been removed to be mounted upon a slide for microscopic exam- 

 ination this fact should be noted on a label attached to the specimen. 



Specimens placed in vials of alcohol should have the label, if not 

 printed, written with waterproof ink on extra good quality of paper. 

 The label should be allowed to dry thoroughly, and then placed into 

 pure alcohol, or as pure as one can obtain, for half an hour or so; 

 then it should be put within the vial, never pasted on the outside. 

 If the label is long, it may be folded or formed to circle around the 

 vial. These labels for alcoholic material need not be written as 

 small as those for pinned specimens, but should be smaller than 

 ordinary script. For labeling specimens on slides a square label of 

 gummed paper should be used. These can be obtained in books 

 from the dealers in microscope supplies. 



In all matters of labeling one should give the information in as 

 plain language and as brief a form as possible, and avoid all signs 

 that can only be interpreted by reference to note books. Much 



