80 



Cataloguing. 



When my insects are off the boards upon which I leave them 

 about six weeks, which is not too long, I proceed to catalogue 

 them as follows : — Each insect is given a serial number, and the 

 data checked against the diary is entered in the catalogue and 

 catalogue number placed in the diary. Where an insect is known 

 its determination label bears the number, where unknown the 

 number is placed in the reverse side of the data ticket. 



Now I will just deal with the determination labels and then 

 with the utility of the catalogue. The determination label bears 

 the number, genus, species, author and name of person responsible 

 for determining the identity, and the date of the identification. 



The utility of this is as follows : — 



The number enables one to refer to the history at once without 

 taking up the insect. 



The genus and species, with author, enables one to see at a 

 glance which particular species the insect is referable to. 



The name of the determining person enables one to see what 

 degree of weight ought to be attached to an identification which 

 does not entirely agree with one's own ideas. 



The date of determination is useful, since it gives a partial 

 key to the subsequent owner of the available synonymic literature 

 the determining person had access to and might, in doubtful cases, 

 elucidate what the determining person really intended. 



The determination label is cut so that it projects beyond the 

 head of the insect, and the pin is run through the blank end. 

 Incidentally, the label helps preserve the forelegs and antennae 

 from danger. 



The data ticket is turned face down and the pin run through, 

 which enables one to read it by turning the insect up without 

 taking it off the pin, which one would have to do if placed below 

 the determination label and face up. 



You may ask, why face down? Well, the curious who view 

 our collections are not always people to whom we desire to 

 disclose the exact locality of scarce insects, therefore, face down 

 is my rule. 



Those insects without determination labels have their several 

 numbers to refer to them by, and when working them out one 

 only has to keep all one's notes on a loose sheet under the serial 

 number and thus minimize one's notes being presumed to refer 

 to another insect. The same applies to preparations of such an 

 insect, it is known by its serial number till we can put a name to it. 



You may ask: What is the good of the Catalogue? First, 

 it enables you to gain ready access to your data without opening 

 the cabinet drawers. 



Second, it is an index to your diary, since insect No. 1,000 

 in the catalogue was caught 9th Sept., 1901 — you can find out 

 all your notes in the diary relating to it at once. 



