CHAPTER XX 



THE NEW DOMESDAY 



THE varied experiences which I have chronicled in this volume 

 have, as a natural course, brought me into close association 

 with many places, men, and things. As I have tried to set out 

 in the different departments into which this sketch of my " Life 

 as a Naturalist " is divided, I have been linked up the whole of 

 my career with both natural and human history, and, although 

 I have for many years kept a faithful diary record as a permanent 

 reference of my own personal observations, it has of late become 

 manifest to me that a splendid co-operative work is awaiting 

 all those knowledge-seekers who are willing to assist in what 

 is now called regional survey, or, in other words, the New 

 Domesday. If this idea is co-operatively adopted, individual 

 effort will, in course of time, become of both local and national 

 importance and usefulness, and the humblest investigator may 

 take part in thus rendering service to the State through even 

 the eyegate of his, or her, own parish. 



Since saintly Osmund undertook the Domesday Book in 

 1085-7, which was the record of a statistical survey of England, 

 a great volume of water has flowed under the bridge, and, 

 although county and local histories have been, and are still 

 being, published, the time has arrived when local Natural History, 

 Scientific, and other kindred Societies should institute a com- 

 plete survey of their own respective districts, under the general 

 superintendence and encouragement of a duly constituted body, 

 such as the provisional Committee for the Development of Regional 

 Survey, the South-Eastern Union of Scientific Societies, the 

 British Association, or one of the learned Societies. As a matter 

 of fact, this most interesting and important work, which, to attract 

 more than passing attention, I have christened " The New 

 Domesday," has already been commenced by a few enthusiasts 

 scattered about the country, but it needs more concentrated 

 and collective effort if the scheme is to be carried out in its 

 entirety. 



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