92 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 1 



form of board covered books of fifty sheets each. The leaves were 

 perforated to form the cards as they were removed from the binder. 



Notes of any unusual size may be conveniently placed in the file 

 by enclosing them in a manilla envelope of exactly the size of the 

 standard card adopted. Envelope and note are headed alike to in- 

 sure their identification. Old loose notes may be thus brought into 

 the file with modern cards. i 



As a matter of convenience we have found it best to place the key 

 on cards. On a card placed in front of the key proper should be given 

 an alphabetical list of the ordinal names adopted or to be followed by 

 the user of the note system. The notes on each order of insects then 

 follow in the sequence indicated on the first card. Under each order 

 the notes are arranged alphabetically by generic names and the species 

 alphabetically under each genus. The notes on a single species are 

 thus brought immediately together under the scientific name of the 

 species. If the common name is more familiar, a cross reference can 

 be made from an alphabetical list of common names. Thus far the ar- 

 rangement is purely alphabetical, but beyond this point the necessity 

 for some definite method of arrangement arises to enable anyone to 

 find desired notes among a large amount of data and to make the file 

 accessible to and usable by any other than the original maker or filer 

 of the notes. 



The key indicates the topical headings to be used and the arrange- 

 ment to be followed in filing the notes on each and every species alike. 

 It is no longer possible to follow an alphabetical plan and the decimal 

 system used in the Dewey system of library cataloging and in the 

 great work of the Concillium Bibliographicum has therefore been 

 adopted in its principal features. Under each species name, the notes 

 are filed strictly according to the decimal sequence of numbering, ex- 

 cept in a few cases where subdivisions can be better arranged alphabet- 

 ically. In the key a certain decimal number is given to each topic 

 or subject heading, into which the study of the insect may be sub- 

 divided and this same subject and decimal number should always 

 be given as the heading on the note to be filed. The statement of 

 both number and subject prevents errors and the misplacement of 

 notes. 



"Miscellaneous notes or those on undetermined species may be filed 

 temporarily under their accessions number. ■ 



The first part of the key applies to general things which assist in 

 systematizing one's work and related records. 



Heading of notes. Every note or card should deal preferably with 

 one subject only. The card is given appropriate heading and in de- 



