15 



Briefly, the work that I am suggesting at the hands of such 

 a committee would consist (1) in the preparation of a bulletin 

 which would, in some degree, indicate some of the most sig- 

 nificant gaps that exist, in whose closing amateur investigators 

 might readily take part, and (2) the distribution of this bulle- 

 tin to all teachers of biology and physiography and geology in 

 our high schools and colleges and to interested observers every- 

 where. 



More specifically, such a bulletin should contain: 



1. A statement of the fields in which the best work has 

 already been done in Illinois biology of the kind already re- 

 ferred to as suitable to the amateur worker. This would not 

 be a tremendously large task. 



2. An analytic display of the fields of work in which the 

 best possibilities now open to such workers. This analysis 

 should go on down even to the statement of some par- 

 ticular problems, of suitable dimensions for unguided workers. 



3. A somewhat detailed outline of proper methods of pro- 

 cedure in one or two concrete problems, either of some work 

 already done or of some still needing to be done. Stress should 

 here be put on the attitude of mind necessary to successful scien- 

 tific work. 



4. Citations to some of the very best literature of any region 

 illustrative of proper method and spirit in such work. 



5. A good classified bibliography of Illinois titles of biolog- 

 ical literature pertaining to the types of work outlined as 

 feasible. 



Such a bulletin would prove useful to many people perfectly 

 competent to work, who for one reason or another are not 

 quite equal to wise selection of a field of study or to complete 

 self-guidance after it is chosen. This kind of exploitation of 

 the field would make it possible for many teachers in schools 

 and colleges to use their classes in the getting of needed data, 

 incidentally much to the benefit of the courses they are giving. 



This proposition would call, as a second step of course, for 

 a bureau of some sort to whom the results — whether of material 

 or of observations — may be returned and there edited, collated, 



