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of systematic survey observations; a column is retained throughout the 

 whole series of record sheets for each sample collected, even though 

 comparatively few of the forms on the list may actually he present in the 

 material. The particulars regarding each species or form, its presence 

 or absence, relative abundance, and a number of other data are recorded, 

 together with a reference to any more extended notes which may have 

 been made, by means of suitable symbols in that space of the record 

 sheets which is directly opposite to the name of the species in the list, 

 and at the same time forms part of the particular vertical column which 

 has been reserved for the sample of material under analysis. The entries 

 are authenticated by the observer's initials being placed in a special 

 space provided at the foot of the column; while two other spaces at the 

 head of each column are reserved respectively for the "Chart Reference", 

 denoting the particular ground from which the material had been ob- 

 tained, and for the "Reference Number" of the sample: from this latter 

 entry all necessary information regarding the collecting of the batch of 

 material in question may be readily obtained. The particulars relating 

 to the various dredgings and other samples of material, and the condi- 

 tions under which these have been collected, are entered in the field upon 

 loose forms specially printed so as to provide spaces for the entry of 

 the fullest data. The "Reference Number" employed consists of the date 

 with the addition of a distinctive letter for each of the various samples 

 taken on that day. Thus: 1907. 6. 15, C. is the reference number of the 

 third sample collected on the 15th of June 1907. The "Collecting 

 Forms" are also preserved in loose-leaf files for jjermanent reference. 



To facilitate entry and at the same time to minimise any risk of 

 error, the lines on the record sheets are ruled in red and blue ink alter- 

 nately ; and as has been already mentioned, the list of names is repeated 

 on each side of the opening: in these ways the difficulty which is so 

 often experienced, with say a railway time-table, of carrying the eye 

 across the sheet is practically eliminated. As a further precaution, it 

 is well before commencing to record a fresh sample to fill in any blank 

 spaces which may have been left in the previous column with the — sign. 



Two sets of files are employed in actual practice, the lists of names 

 in each set being exact duplicates of those in the other. One of these 

 sets of files is intended for use in the field, and is fitted with a sufficient 

 supply of blank record sheets distributed between the lists of names. 

 So soon as one of the loose leaves of the "Field Record-Book" becomes 

 fully entered, it is transferred to an equivalent position in the corre- 

 sponding file of the second or permanent series; and this "Permanent" 

 record book is for safety never permitted to leave the office. As will 

 be readily understood, it is absolutely essential that each individual 



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