210 Annals Entomological Society of America [Vo.l IV, 



size does he draw the line? My specimen is of moderate size 

 and might be referred to either group. Therefore, is bulk the 

 author's criterion? Or is length? Or width? Or odor? 



There are plenty of good, workable tables that will serve as 

 models. An ideal table that would permit of "hard and fast" 

 lines of division for species is, of course, impossible. But much 

 could be done toward improvement by the elimination of indefi- 

 nite terms from specific tables and sexual characters from generic 

 tables. 



V. Standards for Indices. 



Indices are the bane of scientific works. While their purpose 

 is to facilitate reference to, and study of the contents of a vol- 

 ume, it is rarely, indeed, that they achieve their purpose, 

 because of their general insufficiency. Beginning with ordinary 

 check-lists, bibliographies, travels, monographs, etc, taxonomic 

 works are most often poorly equipped as regards indices. 



It is impossible for any man to know all the species and 

 genera of the average order. It is a fact, however, that just 

 those publications which are greatest in volume and importance 

 (taxonomical, ethological and otherwise) are the most poorly 

 indexed. Some authors cite only genera in the index. Others 

 feel that such method is insufficient and append the names of 

 the species under the genera. While that is an improvement, it 

 offers little aid to the student not familiar with the particular 

 order. 



In this age of books, when it is possible to distinguish genera, 

 species, synonyms, etc., each by various styles, sizes and impres- 

 sions of types, the antiquated system of indices, as above re- 

 ferred to, seems inconceivable. The trouble lies — so it seems 

 to me — in the fact that authors seem to confound the index 

 with a table of contents. 



To quote, "an index is a pilot through strange seas of 

 thought. A book without an index is like a ship without a 

 rudder." Continuing the simile — a book of entomology with 

 generic index only is like an ocean-steamer with a canoe-rudder; 

 and an index with the species names under the genera is like a 

 ship with the rudder at its side. 



I need hardly assert that it is those books which are freely 

 and carefully indexed that are most referred to. I feel much 

 as the gentleman who said to me : "A scientific writer who does 

 not care to make a complete and usable index to his works, 



