NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 121 





MigTcant passing north in spring (by a feathered arrow), 



„ south in autumn, „ ... W 



We now come to consider the question : — How are we to 

 apply the above proposed method practically 1 



Lately I have had occasion to work up the Distribution of the 

 Birds of North Russia, and I have found note books on the 

 following plan of the greatest service. 



A quarto note-book, faintly cross-ruled with red ink, having 

 squares about the size shown in the specimens, (see Tables 1 and 2). 

 The paper should be ruled thus throughout, and additional 

 necessary ruling may be done in black as required. Such a 

 note-book may be made available for many useful purposes where 

 tabular arrangement is required; as, for instance, tabulating 

 measurements of a number of specimens, records of thermometric 

 and barometric readings, tides, indexes, records of successive 

 authors in any given country. It might even be useful in drawing 

 a map to scale, or indicating the course of a river or positions of 

 the islands of an archipelago. Tt has an infinite number of 

 advantages over a plain or simply ruled note-book. 



Further, I would suggest that a new List of Birds — say those 

 of Europe — be printed upon this cross-ruled paper (Table 2), 

 leaving a wide margin on the left and at top for headings, and at 

 bottom for foot notes. I am convinced that such would, when 

 fully known, be invaluable either for daily records in the field, by 

 a system of symbols, or in the cabinet for working out the records 

 of previous authors. I can speak so far from personal experience 

 of it, that, though not having the lists actually printed, I have 

 found the method to answer admirably and prove a very great 

 saving of time. Almost any form of tabular arrangement can be 

 applied in such cross-ruled note-books, of which the specimen 

 sheets, above referred to, illustrate some of the uses to which they 

 can be put. 



Specimen Table 1 shows the Distribution of Birds in North 

 Eussia, divided into two primary Divisions — northern and 

 southern; and each of these Divisions into three Districts — north- 

 west, north-central, and north-east, — and south-west, south-central, 

 and south-east. For further particulars of this I would refer you 

 to a paper I have for some time past been engaged upon, viz., 



