200 Annals Entomological Society of America [Vol. IV, 



Not exactly essential, but still of value in extended papers 

 are the following: 



7. The etymology of a new name should be explained. This 

 often gives a clue to a character or to the relation of a genus. 



8. The distribution of a genus should be cited; namely, whether 

 it is Oriental, Palearctic, Xearctic, etc. 



9. The order and family of the genus should be indicated in title 

 or text. This pertains especially to brief papers. As nobody can be 

 familiar with the specialties of all authors or with all generic and family 

 names, this offers an aid in the study and classification of papers. 



10. The validity of the generic name should be considered by the 

 author. It is the author's province to do so in the first place. If 

 taxi momists cared to put a little time or expense to the verification of a 

 name, there would be fewer homonymns coined each year. 



II. Standards for Colors. 



Of all standards these are most needed, since they are most 

 sinned against. That no color standard should exist in a divi- 

 sion of zoology, which is of prime importance economically as 

 well as numerically, and where frequently colors are our only 

 tangible guides — unfortunately so — for -generic and specific 

 determination, is hardly conceivable. Yet such is the case. 

 After one and a half centuries of entomology, in which the 

 number of described species has been advanced from a few 

 hundred to several hundred thousands, we are utterly lacking of 

 any color standard and are guided in our nomenclature of col- 

 ors solely by the individual impressions of the taxonomist. 

 That such a basis is absolutely at fault, needs no special 

 asseveration. 



The perceptions of most men in regard to colors are extremely 

 crude. (To anyone who may doubt this statement I advise a 

 visit to some artist. One may state to him his impressions of 

 ten different shades of color: and observe then, how often the 

 shade will be misnamed by the amateur as against the profes- 

 sional testimony of the artist. I do not claim a better perception 

 than other men and am found at fault equally as much as others.) 

 In their school days men were taught the tale of three to seven 

 primary colors, and a small trifle of the shades resulting from 

 combinations of the primaries. A little of this they remember 

 through the rest of their lives. And, strange to say, when a 

 man would not use a term or expression to designate an anatomi- 

 cal detail unless he is absolutely certain that it is correct, this 

 same man will unhesitatingly designate colors, when, to say the 



