20 7 
NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 
429. Field Notes. — The observations by the Rev. VVoodruffe Peacock 
on Field Notes in the October number are excellent, and are sure to be carefully 
read by would-be recorders of nature. The average person who takes an interest 
in natural history looks upon it more as a casual hobby than as a serious under- 
taking, and is quite content to know just a little about flowers and animals, but 
at once “draws back into his shell ” from sheer modesty, and one might almost 
add “fright,” when another naturalist comeson the scene who rattles off Latin 
names, and knows all about structural details. I am sure that many people are 
afraid of recording their observations from fear of showing what “beginners” 
they are. Perhaps this is in part due to the way in which some “advanced” 
naturalists undoubtedly ignore any but those of their own standard, and thus, 
unconsciously perhaps, damp the ardour or even hurt the feelings of beginners. 
And undoubtedly the greater majority of naturalists are beginners. I think the 
real question of note-taking depends on for whom the notes are taken. If they 
are for yourself make them as scientific and abbreviated as you like : if for others 
besides yourself, make them slightly more popular in nature. This latter plan 
has been the one which I have adopted, and will show beginners how easy it is 
to write interesting nature observations which are quite enough to bring back 
to memory all the circumstances of the occasion. The following are typical of my 
notes, which are, of course, not nearly so complete as those of the Rev. VVoodruffe 
Peacock, but which are inserted merely to encourage naturalists to make notes 
and observations, as recommended by him. For those who like drawing I should 
strongly advise the use of their pencils in copying objects as much as possible. 
My notes are liberally interspersed with illustrations. 
May II, 1906. — Banchory, Deeside, Scotland. Found wagtail’s nest with 
four young, in stone way, near railway. Photographed by several friends. 
Cuckoo heard. 
May 14. — Captured early Thorn Moth at electric light. Lochnagar and 
higher Grampians still deep in snow. Many nests found and photographed each 
day. 
May 22. — Found Petty Whin (Genista anglica) on railway embankment, also 
toadstool, afterwards identified as Verpa Digitaliformis (“ Solitary, Rare.”) 
June 6. — The European Chickweed, winter green, Trientalis europcea , is 
very abundant in the woods. 
June 15. — Butterwort abundant and in flower. 
June 20. — Botanised in swamp, found Buckbean, celery-leaved ranunculus. 
Captured Hadena rectilinea, “Saxon” moth, at night. 
June 22. — Hundreds of Bordered White Moths in pine woods. 
June 24. — Sweet-scented orchid found (afterwards abundant). 
June 26. — Butterfly orchid found. Abundance of vipers, grass snakes, and 
lizards. 
July 7. — Stronachlacher, Loch Katrine. Bog Asphodel abundant. Cap- 
tured Clouded Buff (N. Russula ) in afternoon. 
July 9. — Butterfly Orchid abundant at Loch Chon, below Ben Lomond. 
Captured Green Carpet Moth near waterworks (since turned brown !) 
July 15. — Saw a large Emerald Moth at Rob Roy’s Cave, Loch Lomond. 
July 19. — Found a trout at Inversnaid, Loch Lomond, partly eaten by Otter. 
August 10. — “ Painted Lady” Butterfly seen at Kirkcudbright. 
August 22. — Grange-over-Sands. First Polia Chi Moth found (on stone 
wall, as usual). 
August 29.- -Photographed glacial boulder pudding stone, and great stone 
wilderness on Hampsfell. 
August 30. — Found rat in treacle pot hung on fruit tree ! Sea aster in full 
bloom on sea marsh. 
October 6. — Brambles very abundant still. Damsons a failure in Witherslack. 
October 7. — Found starfish washed up by sea. Very rare here. Only the 
second found in many years. 
Grange-over-Sands , R. C. Lowther. 
North Lancashire. 
