No. 482] CATALOGUING MUSEUM SPECIMENS 



91 



Growth. — Embryo, young, adult. Measurements, weight, etc. 



Scientific name.— In systematic work of this nature the generic 

 followed by the specific name must be used. 



Authority for identification. — This is an important item which 

 is too -often omitted from the average museum catalogue. If a 

 specialist subsequently verifies a name previously given, this 

 should also be noted. In case the name is found incorrect a new 

 card is to be written. 



Date of identification. — It is well to have this information avail- 

 able. 



Locality where collected. — Too much care cannot be exercised 

 in accurately indicating the locality from which specimens are 

 obtained. It is safe to say that every museum has among its col- 

 lections material which would be of the utmost value, provide the 

 locality, even within a few hundred miles, could alone be ascer- 

 tained. Unfortunately in most cases of this kind, it is the collector 

 who is at fault. The cataloguer must rely on his data. 



Name of collector.— Inasmuch as the ' personal equation ' must 

 be taken into consideration, the name of the collector is indispens- 

 able. Furthermore it often furnishes a clue to the history of a 

 specimen when all other means have failed. 



Correspondence. — Letters, etc., pertaining to the particular 

 specimens can be indicated as suggested in the accession cata- 

 logue. 



Date when collected. — This can be indicated as in the accession 

 catalogue. 



Character of specimen.— The nature of a specimen, whether a 

 skeleton, an anatomical preparation, a mounted skin, etc., should 

 be given. If preserved in a special manner it is well to indicate 

 the formula, e. g. 5% formalin; 70% alcohol; killed and hard- 

 ened in chromosmic 3 hours, preserved in 95% alcohol, etc. 

 Explicit notes here will in the end well repay tlie time s[)ent in 

 making them. The back of the card will atrord a'lditional >\rM-v, 

 if needed. 



Remarks. — This space is only to be filled out xvheii there is 

 something of particular importance to be noted concerning the 

 specimen, and of a nature which cannot be covered under the 

 other records. 



