82 
Psyche 
[March 
culled from his own experience. Photography is also sug- 
gested as a solution. But photography requires great ex- 
pertness to attain results. And even here, the very direc- 
tion of the light may obscure the most important charac- 
teristics. The reproduction of the most careful and accur- 
ate photograph is also fraught with hazard. Not long since, 
an entomologist friend of mine had a plate made from a 
photograph of the venation of an odonate wing. Here is an 
object all in the same plane, all in lines, possible to photo- 
graph exactly, and not depending on light and shade for its 
accuracy. Yet, the engraver 'perfected the photograph by 
adding a line where he thought it was needed, thus creating 
not only a new species, but a new genus as well ! And after 
this come the hazards of proper printing. 
All these considerations lead inescapably to the descrip- 
tion as the residual sine qua non, Dr. Strand’s fundamental 
position as I understand it. 
When we arrive at this point, we arrive at the crux of all 
modern insect taxonomy. The only solution is an adequate 
description to stand or fall alone, without benefit of types. 
But what form shall such a description take? Is it to be a 
taxonomic description, restricted only to selected critical 
characters? Or is it to be a morphological description tak- 
ing in each and every structure, internal as well as ex- 
ternal? A taxonomic description of Homo sapiens, var en- 
tomologus, might occupy a printed page, but volumes would 
be required for a complete morphological description. And 
what are we to do about those who make genitalia the be- 
all and end-all of specific description? 
A modern description, to be acceptable must be in such 
form as to stand alone independent of a type or of any 
other description. And by its form it should not only apply 
to the species described exclusively, but it should also cut all 
other cognate forms. This eliminates all ambiguity and 
makes it impossible for one neighbor to be mistaken for 
another. 
When this is done, the type fetish will be automatically 
abolished, thus attaining the very laudable desire of Dr. 
Strand. 
Et quis custodiet ipsos custodes? 
