A complete linear system of curves on an algebraic surface may have assigned base points. The canonical system, from its definition, has no assigned base points at simple points of the surface. But we may construct surfaces on which, all the same, the canonical system has “accidental base points” at simple points of the surface. The classical example, due to Castelnuovo, is a quintic surface with two tacnodes. On this surface the canonical system is cut out by the planes passing through the two tacnodes. These planes also pass through the simple point in which the join of the two tacnodes meets the surface again. This point is the accidental base point of the canonical system on the quintic surface.