41 

 Locating Types 



In most taxonomic research the investigators must 

 study material seen by the describer of a species in 

 creating the description. These specimens are the 

 reference point for the name. Many descriptions were 

 poorly done, or lack specific details needed to identify 

 additional specimens. The history of each "type" specimen 

 becomes important in locating it or discovering if it still 

 exists. Modern researchers must record the depository of 

 specimens studied. Early researchers did not always do 

 this. Horn and Kahle (1935-1937) and Sachtleben (1961) 

 stated the location or fate of many collections and can be 

 helpful in locating a specific specimen. 



For New World Erotylidae the majority of early type 

 material can be found in three places: the Museum National 

 d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris (MNHN) ; the Crotch Erotylidae 

 Collection, University of Cambridge, U.K. (CUMZ) ; and the 

 Natural History Museum, London (NHML) . 



Many of the nomina nuda in De jean's catalogs (1836, 

 1837) and collection, were validated by Lacordaire because 

 he acquired De jean's Erotylidae (Horn & Kahle 1935-1937) 

 and used De jean's names in his descriptions. Horn & Kahle 

 indicate that Lacordaire' s collection was divided and 

 deposited in various European museums. I have been unable 

 to find all of Lacordaire' s Erotylidae, but he studied 

 specimens of several other collectors whose material can be 



