187 



localities of its collection. This catalogue is indexed on cards, alpha- 

 betically arranged, each name on a card being followed by numbers 

 corresponding to the various entries of that number on the species cata- 

 logue. We also keep up an accessions catalogue index made on a simi- ' 

 lar plan, intended to give us access to the miscellaneous and unclassified 

 material in our collections. 



The result of this arrangement is that no matter at what point one 

 takes up a topic, whether he has before him a specimen, a note slip, an 

 accessions catalogue entry representing date and locality of collection, 

 or a species catalogue name, he can rapidly bring together from the 

 other sources all the material, information illustrating it. 



Our notes are all made on single slips of uniform size, suitable for 

 either ink or pencil entries, and each has at the head the accessions 

 catalogue number of the collection to which it refers, followed com- 

 monly, for convenience, with a brief general remark sufhcing to show 

 the nature of the object mentioned. These notes, as already explained, 

 are in paper boxes, labeled on the edge with the name of the family or 

 other group to which the notes contained apply, and arranged in system- 

 atic order, the scheme being a perfectly elastic one, requiring only the 

 insertion of now and then a few new boxes, as the notes under any head 

 become so numerous as to make subdivision necessary. In these boxes 

 are also placed slips bearing brief abstracts of letters which contain im- 

 portant scientific information, with references to the places of these let- 

 ters in the file. 



The library has as the basis of its organization the authors' card 

 catalogue already mentioned, with subject indexes, also on cards, the 

 degree of analysis varying according to the needs of our work. The 

 entries under each author's name being numbered, the references in the 

 subject index are to the author's name and the number of his article. 



If I were now to begin a new work, I would at once begin an accessions 

 catalogue of collections, and an authors' catalogue to my library, and 

 would keep my notes on slips, with references to the accessions catalogue 

 entries. The other features of the scheme of organization I have out- 

 lined above could then be added as they were needed and as they 

 could be provided for. 



EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE. 



The Mediterranean Flour-moth. 



* * * I know of no better means of obtaining infoimation upon economic ento- 

 mology than thvougb the pages of your most valuable publication. I shall be obliged 

 if you will insert the following notice of the appearance in Canada of the Mediterra- 

 nean Flour-niotb, Ephestia kiihnieUa, with the double purpose of putting those con- 

 cerned upou their guard against this troublesome and extremely injurious insect, 

 and at the same time eliciting from your correspondents as much information as pos- 

 sible as to its occurrence in America. For a year or two it has been giving trouble 

 in some of the large mills and feed-stores in England, and Miss Ormerod has published 



