THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Vol. XXL] JUNE, 1888. [No. 301. 



LABELLING INSECTS. 

 By J. W. TuTT, F.E.S. 



As the study of Lepidoptera becomes more extended, and the 

 collector who has taken up the order gets more deeply interested 

 in his subject, he gradually ceases to "^'egard the objects he collects 

 as so many beautiful things to be looked at, and wishes to find 

 out more about them. The cause of variation and range of local 

 forms has of late years created much interest, but there is one 

 thing which has not been systematically practised, in fact has 

 been altogether neglected, by many of the best of our younger 

 lepidopterists. I refer to the habitual labelling of the specimens we 

 place in our collections. There are numbers of lepidopterists who, 

 having a real scientific knowledge of their own collections, can from 

 memory name the collectors who captured the specimens, and 

 tlie localities whence they were obtained ; but the best memory 

 will sometimes be at fault ; and such knowledge is only of use to 

 its actual possessor. Others take a step forward, by keeping a 

 written catalogue of their collections, with data and notes entered ; 

 but this is liable to be mislaid or destroyed, when much valuable 

 information is thus lost, and the collection, from a scientific jDoint 

 of view, is rendered almost valueless. 



When I began collecting, some years ago, two of my first 

 correspondents were the Eev. G. H. Eaynor and ^Ir. W. Warren. 

 Both these gentlemen sent out insects with tiny labels placed on 

 the pin underneath the insect, on which were the place and date 

 of capture, and sometimes other necessary data. One, therefore, 



ENTOM. — JUNE, 1888. O 



