29 



a similar list in an indexed pocket niemoi-anduin book, ri-aelically, 

 one renienihei's most, of the nuinbei's until the}' become (jiiite nnmei-- 

 ous. Also in the experiment tile arc kept prints of all negatives 

 taken of the species concoriKMl, with numbei-s referrinij to their 

 position in the negative lih'. 



SYSTEMATIC FILE (5 BY S CARDS). 



Had the letter i-efcrred to some insect of which no special study 

 was being made, but of which we wished a record of the informal ioji 

 given, a note would liave been made of it in the systematic lile, on a 

 card or slip the same as used in the experiment lile. These 5 by 8 

 cards oi- slips are all punched for duplex rods and are used for all 

 notes in the tield or laboratory. The systematic file, as its name indi- 

 cates, is arranged alphabeticallj^ according to the systematic classifi- 

 cation of insects. Large buff guides show the orders; small blue 

 guides, the families; white guides, genera where notes or many spe- 

 cies occur, and sometimes a tab card is used to indicate the location 

 of notes on a species upon which manj' observations are made. Each 

 group is arranged alphabetical!}^ under tlie next larger systematic 

 group. A strictly systematic arrangement, as in a collection or check 

 list, is not feasible, as the notes must be entered by a clerk not familiar 

 with classification. Where a note is made upon an unknown spe- 

 cies, which is not given an experiment number, it is given an acces- 

 sion nunilx'r, which is placed on the note slip attached to the breed- 

 ing cage. In case the species is still undetermined when the slip is 

 to be filed it is placed under the smallest group to which its classifi- 

 cation can be traced just after the guide card of that group. In this 

 file are also kept occasional notes or suggestions regarding insecticides, 

 machinery, etc., each under its own guide card. 



At the beginning of notes on each species of economic importance — 

 i. e., found in the economic collection — is placed a double card 8 by 10 

 inches folded to be 5 by 8, bearing an outline map of Texas on the 

 inside, known as the distribution map. Thes(» maps can also be 

 used foi- any species of which we wish a graphic record of its distri- 

 bution, such selection of species being entirel}' arbitrary. For most 

 States a card 5 by 8 would hold a map of the State on the same scale. 

 Practically all specimens of a species not of economic importance are 

 to be found in the systematic collection, so that its distribution can 

 soon be ascertained by examining the locality labels on specimens. 

 As it is impo.ssible to write out or have printed on the map the name 

 of each locality, the locality from which the in.sect is secured is indi- 

 cated as nearly as possible by placing a number at the proper point 

 in red ink. On the back of the card this number is recorded, and 

 after it are given the post-ollice, county, collector, date, and accession 

 number of the specimens. All specimens or new localities of any 



