  We propose a new method of analysis for the \lya forest, namely to measure
the 1-point and 2-point joint probability distribution of the transmitted flux.
The results for a sample of seven observed quasars and from two simulations of
structure formation are shown and compared. Statistically significant
differences in the 2-point function between the results of the numerical
simulations and the observations are easily found. The analysis we suggest is
very simple to apply to observed data sets, and we discuss its superiority over
the traditional Voigt-profile fitting algorithms for accurate comparison to the
predictions of theoretical models.
