376 



previous observer. No work of its kind has indirectly had more 

 influence upon the study and advancement of local natural history 

 than his charming volume on the " Natui'al History of Selborne ; " 

 the fascinating way in which he has treated the subject having 

 stirred up in the minds of unnumbered readers, youthful readers 

 especially, just beginning to feel a taste for such pursuits, a desire 

 to investigate after a similar manner the natural productions of 

 their own neighbourhood. 



But to return to the matter alluded to above. I did not in my 

 Address, for it was impossible then, go into any of the details of 

 local biology, but I expressed a hope to do so at some future time.* 

 The object of my present paper is to supply some of these details ; 

 or rather to state, in the way of suggestion, such observations as 

 have been made of late years by various naturalists relating to the 

 habits, characters, and economy of animals, the same serving to 

 illustrate what kinds of facts are wanted from the local zoologist to 

 give value to his researches, and to make them available for modern 

 science. To go fully into the subject, and follow it up through 

 each department of the animal kingdom would require a volume. 



I assume then that he wishes to know and understand thoroughly 

 the Fauna of a particular district — say the Bath district — in all 

 its entirety. In addition to selecting certain fixed stations in woods 

 or other retired spots best adapted for getting a knowledge of the 

 habits of animals t, he must provide himself with a note-book 

 wherein to enter upon the spot every little fact and occurrence that 

 offers itself, even when his mind is not particularly set to Natural 

 History researches. White here furnishes an example. In one of his 

 letters to Daines Barrington on the singing of birds he says, " For 

 many months I carried a list in my pocket of the birds that were to be 

 remai'ked, and, as I rode or walked about my business, I noted each 

 day the continuance or omission of each bii'd's song, so that I am 

 as sure of the certainty of my facts as a man can be of any trans- 

 action whatsoever." But a Journal of a more enlarged character 

 than White's, and adapted to receive the more numerous entries 

 which the Naturalist is called upon to make at the present day, if 



* See Proc. of Bath Nat. Hist. Field Club, vol. ii.. pp. 256, 257. 

 t See " Obaervations in Natural History. Introduction on Habits of 

 Observing," pp. 40-44. 



