98 tHE ENTOJIOLOGISt's RECORr;. 



Zonosoma porata, Elwdostrophia calahra var. tabidaria, Rhodometra 

 ■^acraria, Ljfthria sanijuinaria, Odezia atrata, Caiiiptoi/raryinia hilineata, 

 Eapithecia innotata (or an exceedingly close ally — the single specimen is 

 worn), Gyinnoscelia puDiUata, Steijmiia triinacvlata, Anthoiiu'trn pluniu- 

 laria (a nice series, 6(? and 6$), FJnrranthis penniijeiaria, Heliuthea 

 discoidaria. Piedrahita — Acidalia luteolaria, ochrata, scriceata, riisti- 

 cata, and decorata ; BModustropliia vibicaria var. strujata, Lythria 

 sanguinaria, Ortholitha coelinaria, Lygris {Larentia,) pyraliata {dotata, 

 Stgr., Cat., nee L.). 



On labelling insects. 



By A. RUSSELL, F.E.S. 



The possibility that a knowledge of my method of labelling insects 

 may prove of use to fellow entomologists induces me to acquaint your 

 readers with it. My method diflers from that which I believe is 

 usually adopted, in that, on my labels, is printed above the locality, the 

 letter "I." Most insects are taken in the perfect state, and the label, 

 as printed, when attached to a particular insect, indicates that that 

 insect was acquired in the imago or perfect state. But, as will be 

 seen, the letter " I " is readily convertible into other letters, e.y., " E," 

 "L" and " P," signifying respectively, egg, larva and pupa. It 

 follows that, supposiiag an insect which requires to be labelled is the 

 result of rearing from ova, that fact is duly recorded by changmg the 

 initial "I" on the label into " E." Similarly, the "I" can be 

 changed into "L" to indicate that an insect was originally acquired 

 in the larval state, and into " P " to show that an insect was originally 

 obtained in the pupal state. My labels, as printed, are shown by the 

 following example : — 



Of course, where a long series is bred from a single parent, oi- 

 where captures of a large number of the same species are made on the 

 same day, or in the same month, it may be preferable to continue the 

 method generally in use, and record the fact on a special slip. In 

 cases, however, where a few insects only of a particular species are 

 reared or captured, it is possible that my method of labelling may 

 commend itself to others. 



It is, I think, a distinct advantage to be able to tell at any time the 

 brief history of an insect. For the purpose of reference I always affix 

 my labels to the pin /'arc downivardti. This certainly involves the 

 removal of an insect from its place in the cabinet when it is required 

 to be known in what state the insect was originally obtained, but, on 

 the other hand, this mode of affixing the label has this advantage, 

 viz., that a collector when showing his prizes may, or may not, as be 

 pleases, disclose the localities from which they were obtained. 



In conclusion, 1 may say that I find it convenient also to have 

 labels printed with the words KntomoloiiLst's Record, Kntomoloyi&t, etc., 

 on them. l>y the use of these labels an insect may be identified with 

 any particular insect which has been described or recorded in one or 

 other of the entomological magazines. 



