THE OOLOGIST. 



117 



not to uuduly swell the it^-ord by 

 entering them over again. At tlie end 

 of each day the results can be transfer- 

 red to the permanent record. To some 

 the work may seem an irksome slaveiy, 

 hopeltissly interfering with their enjoy- 

 ment of tlie beauties of nature. But 

 Avith a very little practice they will be 

 surprised to see how easy it becomes, 

 and how much more thoroughly they 

 observe when they have an increased 

 incentive to identify every bird and 

 count the number in each lloi-k. 



To illustrate the system, I give a 

 brief extract from the notes taken near 

 Cambridge last season by Jonathan 

 Drt'ight, Jr., and myself. 



: K s 2 <;<!<:< ; 



I-'Z 



ruled bolii hori/ontally and verticall}', 

 and the vertical columns headed with 

 the daj's of the month, so that a space 

 is given for the entry of each species 

 under each day. This greatly facili- 

 tates the making of tiie original entiy, 

 and upon subsequent reference to it the 

 liistory of the occurrence and abun- 

 dance of any species during the period 

 of observation may be read at a glance. 



When it happens to be impossible to 

 make an exact count — as is sometimes 

 the case with a large Hock of birds — the 

 fact of the number recorded being onl}' 

 an estimate can be indicated bj' attach- 

 ing to the figures any arbiti-ary sign to 

 suit the fancy of the observer. Simi- 

 larlj-, signs and abbreviations can be 

 used to indicate that a species was in 

 tiocks, was apparently, migrating, was 

 singing, etc. As a rule, however, such 

 facts can be more protitably treated at 

 greater length in the note-book proijer. 



Hoping that others mnj be induced 

 to follow this plan, and so, with but ^ 

 little trouble, greatlj' increase the .scien- 

 tific value of their tield-work. 



C. F. Batcheldek, 

 Cambridge, Mass. 



jMarch 14, 1^90. 



BOOK REVIEW. 



Anv book reviewed in these columns can be 

 obtained of the Publisher ot the OOLOoiar at 

 prices quoted. 



-O- 



Flokknxe 



As a matter 'of convenience we use 

 for a permanent record pages on which 

 the species likely to be met with are 

 printed in ^s^stematic order down the 

 left hand :^ margin. These jJa^^es are 



Birds through an Opera Glass. 

 A. Mekhiam. 

 In Riverside Library for Young People, lllus- 

 tnued. lenio., 7.5 cents, aoston: Houghton, 

 Miftliu &C0. 1S90. 



This work, written in a popidar style, 

 is one of the most entertaining and 

 fascinating that has come to our notice. 



The author assures her readers in the 

 preface, that "the littie book is no real 

 lion" and that "they have nothing to 

 fear." 8he says: "It is not an orni- 

 thcdogical treatise. It has not even the 

 lion's roar of technical terms and 

 descriptions to warn them of raging 

 dullness, but is 'a very gentle beast, 

 and of a good conscience.'" 



Preceding the work proper are a few 



