INTRODUCTION 



THE MAKING AND RECORDING OF OBSERVATIONS ILLUSTRATIONS 



PHOTOGRAPHY THE USE AND MISUSE OF COLLECTIONS 



IN the practical pursuit of nature-study, it is possible to rely 

 entirely upon the memory with regard to the many facts discovered. 

 No doubt much good may in such case be forthcoming, especially 

 where very young children are concerned ; but it is advisable that 

 the student should, as soon as possible, learn to note down clearly 

 and in concise language what he sees. In continued observation, 

 moreover, some kind of record is almost a necessity, if comparisons 

 are to be accurately made, interest maintained, and the pleasing 

 character of the work made clear to others. The whole movement 

 in favour of nature-study may suffer also, if there is " nothing to 

 show " for all the energy expended, by comparison with activity in 

 less valuable branches of education, of which the immediate results 

 are more obvious. 



Written accounts first suggest themselves. These may be made 

 much shorter and at the same time more useful than they other- 

 wise would be, by the addition of illustrations. The roughest 

 diagrams may often be as great an aid to memory as the most 

 artistic and elaborate drawings, which it will be beyond the power 

 of many to produce. Sometimes, again, a photograph and there 

 are few who cannot learn to use a camera may be the best means 

 of recording an observation. Models, though more bulky, may 

 replace other illustrations ; and lastly, an actual specimen or series 



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