Page:The Gall Wasp Genus Cynips.pdf/17

 BASIS OF PRESENT STUDY

present study is based upon more than 17,000 insects and an estimated 54,000 galls—a total of over 71,000 specimens representing the 93 species known in the genus Cynips. Every one of the insects has been examined under the higher powers of a binocular microscope. Thousands of the specimens have been repeatedly re-examined in direct comparison with every specimen whose affinities might in any way throw light on the interpretation of the characters under observation. Exactly 16,899 of the insects and nearly all of the 54,000 galls of the genus are in our own collections where they have been available for all the comparisons and endless re-comparisons that have been necessary during the four years of intensive study given to this group of species. There are 96 Schmitt boxes of the mounted material of Cynips which constitute the permanent validation of our conclusions on this group, and this collection will be available at all times to future students. Part of our material is being distributed among museums and other workers on Cynipidae. Outside our own collections, I have studied the Cynips material in the American, U.S. National, Philadelphia Academy, Harvard (Museum of Comparative Zoölogy), Field, Illinois Natural History, and Stanford Museums.

The specific distribution of the material used in the present study is as follows:

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