122 
Psyche 
[June 
(4). It is implied that type specimens have come to be 
so widely used, not because they have added an element 
of certainty and exactness to taxonomic work, but because 
certain taxonomists by their use are able to dominate tax- 
onomy, and therefore have a personal interest in maintain- 
ing a type system, that they secure for themselves either 
power or personal aggrandizement by the perpetuation and 
strengthening of such a system. Granting for the moment 
that such a motive were possible, would the situation be 
any worse than that which now exists and which allows 
an individual to acquire eminence and renown as a taxono- 
mist, although he contribute nothing more to taxonomy 
than an endless number of descriptions of new species, 
to which his name must be attached. The idea that the 
describing of species may be a major objective in taxo- 
nomic work is seriously questioned by many present-day 
entomologists. Just what personal power and aggrandize- 
ment can be secured by an individual by basing his taxono- 
mic work on type specimens is not made clear, and the 
charge that the practice of designating types for species 
is maintained by those who personally profit from the sys- 
tem, sounds strikingly similar to the charge usually made 
by the opposition, who refuse to see any good in any new 
idea, and who in order to encourage prejudice against it, 
accuse the proponents of promoting their own personal 
interests. As a matter of fact, type specimens were first 
used, and their use continues and is being perfected, because 
they have contributed an element of standardization to 
taxonomic work. A type specimen constitutes a standard 
by which other individuals of the same species may be 
measured and compared, and when so used it contributes 
accuracy and exactness to a field where doubt and confusion 
have been prevalent. When a nation desires some standard 
for a unit of weight, measure, etc., does it write up a 
lengthy description of the particular unit and declare that 
this description will be the only and final authority to deter- 
mine what the unit actually is? It does not. Some sort 
of a material standard representing the particular unit is 
set up and is very carefully kept and preserved. When 
questions of doubt arise as to the exact characteristics of 
