pseudotypes, phenon and collections

[Barry M. OConnor]

At 10:54 AM 3/6/98, Thomas Schlemmermeyer wrote:

>        E. Mayr suggests that collections should freely exchange holotypes
>        by shipping, as losses are expected to be low.
>        This guideline, today, is still valid? If so, I only know
>        extremely rigid, closed collections.
>        Are there any modern guide lines for collection policies in
>        entomological collections?
>
Different collections have different policies.  Some loan holotypes and
others do not.  Typically, those that do loan types do so for a relatively
short period and demand that specimens be sent via registered mail.
Interestingly, it is standard policy among vertebrate collections not to
loan types.  I've been told that a mammal collection would lose its
certification by the American Society of Mammalogists if they were to loan
a type.  Our collection policy does allow the loan of type specimens,
however, for requests from other countries, we try to find alternate means
of shipment to avoid problems with the posatal services in many countries.
With the near world-wide service now provided by many express delivery
companies, this may no longer be a problem.  However, we don't have much
experience with these companies in this regard.

Barry M. OConnor                phone: (734) 763-4354
Museum of Zoology               FAX: (734) 763-4080
University of Michigan          e-mail: bmoc at umich.edu
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1079  USA