206 NATURE STUDY REVIEW [9:7— Oct., 1913 



Proportion of edible pulp. 



Used for what. 



Competitors for it. 



Inhabitants of it. 



Remarks. 

 The last column provides for stating characters of a miscellaneous 

 sort, not covered by the other headings, and is always needed. 



In such a table, likenesses and differences appear very distinctly. 

 It is chiefly valuable as a means of facilitating comparisons. Its 

 limitations at once appear when the things compared are so diverse 

 that their characters do not admit of contrast and will not conform 

 to any set of column headings. Furthermore, examination of such 

 a table when completed is slow work. Small diagrams may often 

 be used instead of writing in certain columns, making characters 

 both plain and easy to read. I have found that twelve to fifteen 

 new fruits, etc., are about all my classes are able to acquaint them- 

 selves with in one field trip. 



Annotated lists. — This is the sort of record that admits of treat- 

 ment of the largest number of objects in the remotest variety of 

 ways. When tables are inadequate for want of space or of flexi- 

 bility, then the annotated list comes in. It is useful because it 

 admits : 



1. Any number of things for consideration. 



2. Any extent or form of presentation. 



3. Variable treatment according to relative importance. 



4. Any arrangement of sub-groups. 



5. Personal initiative in choice of material and methods of 

 record-making. 



Its limitations lie in the indefiniteness of the work assigned, which, 

 with some students leads to scant returns, and with others, leads 

 to an excess of writing, to be followed by endless reading of notes 

 when the records have to be examined.* These difficulties may be 

 in part ameliorated by giving out examples of the kind of notes 

 desired, by stating the kinds of facts to be sought, and by recom- 

 mending conciseness, and the use of simple diagrams to illustrate 

 the lists. 



Now, having listed these four forms of records separately, let me 

 hasten to say that I rarely use one of them alone. I like to have 

 my annotated lists illustrated. I combine lists and maps and 

 tables freely. I prefer tables filled with diagrams wherever possi- 



