348 IMPORTANCE OF REGISTERS 



ing to add the extreme dates in respect of early 

 and late occurrence, and the included range in 

 the case of each phenomenon. 



(11.) We have been considering the case of the 

 naturalist who collects these dates solely for natural 

 history purposes, and who gets together as many 

 as he can of every different kind. He, however, 

 who has it in view to deduce results serving to 

 illustrate any particular climate, and who makes 

 observations of this nature in connexion with, as 

 they always ought to be in connexion with, others 

 in Meteorology, will find it better, instead of ob- 

 serving indiscriminately all that offers itself, to 

 make a selection of phenomena in the first instance 

 to be particularly noted, being those which are 

 most obvious in themselves, as well as most de- 

 pendent upon atmospheric causes for the time of 

 their occurrence. Also, if he desire to compare 

 the results so obtained with similar results ob- 

 tained in other places, it can only be by acting 

 in union with other observers, all agreeing to ob- 

 serve the same periodic facts, either in some given 

 year, with reference to climate only, or for a given 

 number of years consecutively, with reference to 

 climate and season combined. 



(12.) Persons desirous of beginning to observe 

 periodic phenomena might of course select their 

 own course in this matter, and in reference to 

 whatever ends they please. But hitherto natu- 

 ralists have been unable to do more than to collect 

 observations here and there for their own immediate 

 use, from the want of other observers with whom to 



