386 



form available for ready reference, the fullest information respecting a 

 local fauna or flora. 



The recording of the full contents of an ordinarily rich dredge- 

 haul, for instance, is a matter requiring the expenditure of some consi- 

 derable time if it is undertaken in the ordinary way by writing out a 

 list of the names of all the species met with' in the haul; and for the 

 purpose of a detailed "Biological Survey" such a crude method is quite 

 out of the question unless a very large clerical staff can be maintained. 

 If faunistic investigations are to be carried out with scientific precision, 

 it is essential to record not only the names of all the forms Avhich may 

 be present in a particular batch of material, but also of those which are 

 definitely absent from the sample; and it is necessary, moreover, to take 

 notice of many other observations regarding the different forms beyond 

 the mere fact of their presence or absence: by the system now to be de- 

 scribed all this is rendered quite possible with even a very limited staff. 



In the first place, a complete list is prepared of all the forms, ar- 

 ranged in classificatory order, which are likely to be met with in the 

 district; and this list is then made to serve for an indefinite number of 

 dredgings, tow-nettings, etc. This result is effected by intercalating 

 between the pages on which the lists of names are written out, other 

 sheets specially prepared to receive the actual records; the papers being 

 all held firmly together and in place by binding them in 'loose-leaf 

 files 2j which, while keeping the papers safely in position , at the same 

 time permit of the ready removal and replacement of any individual 

 sheet. The special "Record Sheets" are of foolscap size, and are ruled 

 on both sides of the paper into a series of vertical and horizontal co- 

 lumns. Xow, the sheets of paper bearing the lists of names are cut to 

 a greater width than that of the ruled record sheets, so that the former 

 project about 8 cm beyond the latter when they are bound together in 

 the file; and, as the lists of names are written on these projecting mar- 

 gins and on both sides of the paper, the writing is plainly visible to 

 each side of the record sheets when the file is opened out for use. The 

 names, which are thus repeated on both sides of the opening, are so 

 spaced, that they and the horizontal columns of the record sheets are im- 

 mediately opposite to one another. The vertical columns of the record 

 sheets are each appropriated to the analysis of one single haul of the 

 dredge, or of such other individual sample of material; and in the case 



2 Of the various loose-leaf files at present known to me, the "Stolzenberg" 

 would appear to be the most convenient lor the purpose of the Record Books, in 

 that it holds the papers sufficiently firml^y in position that there is but little tendency 

 for the ruling of the sheets to get 'out of register'. On the other hand : these files 

 require to be handled with considerable care as their contents are very liable to 

 become torn by the binding mechanism if thej^ are at all roughly used. 



