THE CARE OF ENTOMOLOGICAL TYPES. 51 



orange (6), dark orange (1), brown (1), light brown (2). (IV) The four 

 ventral rows: Black (1), dark (4), light orange (1), brown (1), light brown 

 (1), gray-brown (2), lead (4). green-yellow (1). green slate (2), light (1), 

 Hairs. — (I) Dorsad: Golden brown (1), white (8), brown (5), light brown 

 (2), gray (1), black and white (1). (II) Laterad : White (13), gray (3), 

 brown (2). 



\\Tiile writers generally mention the great color variability of the 

 larvae and that there are light and dark colored ones, I do not know 

 that anyone has attempted to put the variability in a tabular form. 



The appreciable economic loss from the webAvorm is generally not 

 great and but few trees are ever endangered. Small trees can, of 

 course, easily be defoliated b}^ one or a few broods. In localities 

 where the worm is double brooded the situation may become serious 

 and considerable loss ensue. But by a little attention, with a torch 

 or by cutting out and destroying the webs a great deal can be done 

 to eliminate this pest. 



The following paper was read by the secretary : 



THE CARE OF ENTOMOLOGICAL TYPES. 

 By T. D. A. CocKERELL, Boulder, Colo. 



It has long seemed to me that something ought to be said about 

 the duty of museums, universities, etc., in properly caring for and 

 rendering accessible the types and cotypes of insects in their posses- 

 sion. I do not refer to the institutions where the collections are sys- 

 tematically neglected, but to the best we have, where everything is 

 supposed to be just as it should be. Quite too often we hear that a 

 given type " can not now be found," and I suppose that few muse- 

 ums could at a moment's notice produce a list of types in their pos- 

 session. Within the last few years I have visited two of the largest 

 collections of insects in the world, one in Europe and the other in 

 America, and have found types and cotypes which I had myself sent 

 hidden away among the unassorted accessions, where nobody knew 

 where to find them. They were not in any danger of destruction, to 

 be sure, but they were for the present forgotten, and with the lapse 

 of years they might well be in danger of complete oblivion. 



The trouble comes, of course, from the fact that in most institutions 

 certain orders are neglected from the lack of men to care for them. 

 My own favorites, the bees and Coccidse, are specially unfortunate 

 in this respect, and I very rarely have the happiness of seeing collec- 

 tions of them that are in any way satisfactory. When recently in 

 Washington I found the Coccida? of the Department of Agriculture 

 in process of arrangement, according to an admirable plan, so that 

 here at any rate it will be easy to find any specimen upon the premises. 



