Hutton : Pahidestrina jenkinsi at New Holland. 



263 



be simplified, every square could be adequately dealt with,"^ 

 If every fossil collector could be induced to record the locality 

 of each of his specimens in this way a great stride would be 

 made.f In working- out the life-zones of many formations the 

 horizontal distribution of certain fossils is as important as their 

 vertical distribution. The life-zones in the Carboniferous Lime- 

 stone series would not have still been undetermined had collectors 

 in the past but grasped this important fact. It might happen 

 that careful recording of locality by conchologists might throw 

 some light on the causes that determine the distribution of the 

 various species of the land mollusca. Even the entomologist 

 might use the method and thus help to round off the work of the 

 various branches of natural history. The solid rocks, the pro- 

 tecting soil, and the many forms of plant-life, with the innumerable 

 annuals, all form parts of the great scheme of life. Winter's 

 snow and the summer sun affect them. Together they seek to 

 establish an equilibrium, and in doing so, many are the problems 

 that suggest themselves to the lover of Nature. Accurate 

 observation carried on patiently and diligently is the only method 

 by which the data for solving these problems can be obtained. 

 This is just the work that local societies can do, and it is in the 

 hope that the value of these observations might be increased 

 that this suggestion of a systematic method for indicating the 

 locality is made. To the objection that this may lead to the 

 extermination of rare plants the obvious reply may be made that 

 their locality should never be stated. The fortunate botanist 

 who finds them can easily notify the fact of their occurrence 

 without giving such particulars as would afford an excuse for 

 the misapplied energy of unscrupulous collectors. 



SHELLS, 



Paludestrina jenkinsi at New Holland, — When at New 

 Holland in July I collected Pahtdestrina Jenkinsi.— V\[ . Harrison 

 Hutton, Leeds. 



* This method was adopted some A^ears ag-o by the East Riding Erratic 

 Blocks Committee, with very successful results. — Eds. 



t A somewhat similar plan has been carried out for many years by Mr. 

 J. R. Mortimer in connection with his well-known collection of East York- 

 shire Chalk fossils. Mr. Mortimer's plan, however, is to give a separate 

 number to each field on the map. The specimens are numbered : S. (Sheet) 

 X. — F. (Field) x. Thus: S. 46, F. 47 = Sheet 46, Field 47, and in this way 

 the locality for the quarry or section from which any fossil has been obtained 

 can be seen at a glance.— Eds. 



1905 September i. 



