METHODS 163 



lucky enough to work out a complete picture of the life and 

 habits of any one animal in all its aspects and phases. The 

 thing which strikes one is rather the way in which the observa- 

 tions are recorded, there being in many cases no principle 

 followed. After all, it is impossible to describe an occurrence 

 in the most useful way, without having some idea of how the 

 information is going to be used Adams 1* has emphasised the 

 importance of this in a very helpful chapter on ecological 

 methods, and quotes Van Hise, who said : "I have heard a 

 man say : * I observe the facts as I find them, unprejudiced 

 by any theory.' I regard this statement as not only condemning 

 the work of the man, but the position as an impossible one. 

 No man has ever stated more than a small part of the facts 

 with reference to any area. The geologist must select the 

 facts which he regards of sufficient note to record and describe. 

 But such selection implies theories of their importance and 

 significance. In a given case the problem is therefore reduced 

 to selecting the facts for record, with a broad and deep com- 

 prehension of the principles involved, and a definite under- 

 standing of the rules of the game, an appreciation of what is 

 probable and what is not probable." 



2. The first point of importance is therefore to have a 

 very clear idea of the use to which your observations will 

 probably be put afterwards, whether by yourself or others. 

 At the same time, of course, facts are constantly assuming an 

 unforeseen importance in the light of later discoveries ; we 

 are merely pointing out that it pays to try to look ahead and 

 make records in such a way that they will be as intelligible and 

 valuable as possible. These remarks may sound commonplace 

 and superfluous, but an example will show the great importance 

 of the point raised. When an ornithologist records the food 

 of a particular species of bird, he very seldom troubles to find 

 out the exact species of food- animals concerned. For instance, 

 many food records merely refer to " mayflies " or " worms " 

 or " Helix. "" Conversely, when an entomologist records the 

 enemies of some caterpillar he will often enough refer to them 

 as " small warblers," or if a worm-lover were to speak about 

 the enemies of worms upon mud-flats he would probably 



