228 
PHENOLOGY. 
Oct., 1892. 
would be too busy to copy the observations for another’s use. 
The usual result would, therefore, be just as if the observa¬ 
tions had never been made. They would be lost to science. 
Now, I ask, why should careful and systematic observations 
of natural history objects be lost? There is no reason, as I 
think I can show. When one sees a flower out very early or 
late in the season, or sees certain birds or insects, one says to 
oneself, “ The weather has been very favourable for bringing 
these things aboutor, “ The weather has been so cloudy or 
cold, no wonder there is nothing yet to observe and so on. 
My object in giving this paper is to get such observations 
made—and I hope I shall persuade some to make them—as 
will enable one to look at Natural History from a Meteoro¬ 
logical aspect. To find out what effect Meteorology—or, to 
use a more popular phrase, the weather —has on certain 
selected species in the Natural History Kingdom ; or, to take 
a very'comprehensive, but opposite view of the subject, what 
effect Natural History—Botany for instance—has on Meteo¬ 
rology, the weather, or climate : for these three words have 
really the same meaning. 
Any attempt to form a connection between Natural History 
and Meteorology—in fact, any two or more branches of science 
—should be fostered. And Natural History Societies and 
Field Clubs, or rather, the individual members of them, could 
give immense help towards the former. 
The plan I shall presently put before you is not my own, 
let me tell you, but was made by the Royal Meteorological 
Society, and it has now been carried on, with one or two 
revisions, since 1875. The Society now only require observa¬ 
tions of thirteen plants, six birds, and five insects, each year. 
A very light, yet interesting, work, again let me tell you. It 
used to be hard work —with other duties — to get an observation 
of 112 objects every year, this being the number which was 
formerly required. To aid this scheme, I appeal to observers 
to make observations—in accordance with the instructions of 
the Royal Meteorological Society—of the objects here 
mentioned. The plants have been most carefully selected, 
being such as can be seen wild in almost every part of the 
British Isles. They have purposely been chosen, as, besides 
being common, they are readily known and accessible, the times 
of flowering occurring between January and September; 
plants which have already been well observed as useful for 
forming an average date of flowering ; plants which would 
not be likely to be mistaken for others ; also such tall plants, 
as trees and shrubs. 
Having willing observers and the list of plants, &c., one 
thing is still absolutely necessary, and that is, that all the 
