CHAPTER III. 



ON LABELING SPECIMENS AND TAKING NOTES. 



In making a collection of insects, the specimens 

 should be carefully labeled so that it will be possible 

 at any time to tell when and where each one was col- 

 lected ; and if observations are made regarding the 

 insects, these should be recorded in such a way that 

 there can be no doubt regarding the specimens to 

 which they refer. The collector, therefore, should 

 adopt at the outset a definite system of labeling speci- 

 mens and of taking notes. 



It is very important that the system adopted 

 should be a simple one, one that can be easily carried 

 out ; for if too much labor is involved there will be 

 great danger that it will not be done. 



I. ON LABELING SPECIMENS. 



Unnumbered Specimens. — The number of speci- 

 mens which a collector of insects must handle is so 

 great that it is impracticable to give each specimen a 

 number referring to a catalogue or a note-book, as is 

 customary in collecting larger animals. Entomolo- 

 gists, therefore, when they wish merely to record the 

 locality and date of capture make use of small labels 

 which are placed on the pins below the specimens. 

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