442 INTRODUCTION TO NATURALIST'S CALENDAR. 



localities, and in various years and circumstances ; and however 

 interesting the task, it would entail much time and labour to reduce 

 them to any available order. If, then, the more important points 

 in the economy of our native species could be registered on some 

 simultaneous and regular plan, interesting information and details 

 might be elicited, and an insight into the laws which regulate their 

 motions and changes, be in a short time obtained. 



For the above purpose, a set of Tables have been prepared for 

 the present, the concluding number of the " Contributions for 1848," 

 in such time as will enable the month of January with the whole 

 year to be observed and registered ; and accompanying the 

 number there is a duplicate copy printed on thin paper and with 

 printed address, which it is requested may be filled up and posted 

 in the first week of January, 1850, when, if health and circumstances 

 permit, a summary of the registers and observations returned will 

 be drawn up and printed with an early succeeding number. 



For the better filling up of these tables, the following observations 

 may not be inappropriate : 



The tables and lists of species have been drawn up, as far as 

 possible, to suit any locality ; at the same time many omissions 

 may have been made which experience in a future year may 

 remedy, and there may be many things inserted which are not 

 applicable, and may appear useless in certain districts. Thus, 

 the return filled up in Orkney will produce a very different 

 appearance from one made in the middle or southern districts 

 of England. 



In these returns it will be very desirable to know the elevation 

 above the sea as nearly as possible ; to have a general register of 

 the temperature and weather, with a short description of the 

 character of the country and its vegetation around the localities 

 where the observations are made. In the curious and interesting 

 subject of migration, particular attention is desired. The average 

 temperature at the times of appearance and departure ; the direction 

 of the wind ; the general character of the weather; the condition 

 and progress of vegetation, should all be observed. It might be 

 supposed that the arrival of the migratory species in other countries 

 would be influenced more by the climate of that from which they 

 departed than of that to which they came ; that an earlier frost or 

 mild weather, would have the effect of driving them away or 

 inducing them to prolong their departure ; in this country, however, 

 though a cold autumn has an evident effect on the time of the 



