IRature IRotes: 
XEbe Selbonte Society’s fn>aoa3tne. 
No. 16. APRIL 15, 1891. Vol. II. 
ORGANISED OBSERVATION. 
N the Editorial Programme which appears in the first 
number of Nature Notes, the following passage 
occurs : “ It is believed that a large number of in- 
teresting observations made by those who use their 
eyes for the purpose of nature study, are lost, because the 
observers do not think what they have noticed is of sufficient 
value to be worthy of record in any scientific journal." 
A person happens to notice what appears to him to be a 
curious habit in an animal. If he is of a thoughtful nature he 
will say to himself, “Why does it do this?" but he usually 
takes it for granted that the habit is well known to naturalists, 
the fact, escapes his memory, and he never thinks of it again. 
Isolated observations may appear in themselves uninteresting, 
for nothing is interesting without comparison ; and apparently 
insignificant facts are thus constantly forgotten, when if recorded, 
they might form most valuable links in the chain of observations 
by another. 
No doubt it was hoped that Nature Notes might become 
a headquarters for recording such simple observations as 
were not considered worthy of insertion in purely scientific 
papers. And this is just what ought to be the case. The Sel- 
borne Society does not profess to be a scientific society, but it 
does profess to be composed of persons who take an interest in 
Nature; it numbers its members by thousands, and possesses 
branches throughout the country. Moreover, as admirers of 
Gilbert White, we should of all things be observers. And I 
think that not only ought Nature Notes to be made a medium 
for recording observations, but that the Society should institute 
an organised system of observation. The committees of the various 
branches should not merely do their utmost to encourage indi- 
vidual members to use their eyes, but endeavour to establish a 
regular staff of observers, so that observations should be carried 
