238 Miscellaneous, 



his being. The discoveries of Prof. Hitchcock were published at a 

 period when the minds of those who embraced the negative side of 

 the subject were pre-occupied with the anomalous vegetation with 

 which many of the Silurian rocks of New York abound, and to which 

 provisionally the name of Fucoides had been given. From this imi- 

 tative character, and from finding a few specimens presenting a tri- 

 partite or trifurcate form, &c. it appeared not only possible but pro- 

 bable, that the impressions from Massachusetts and Connecticut 

 were with greater propriety referable to fucoidal bodies, than to those 

 which Prof. Hitchcock had assigned them. 



We may here remark, how essential it is that truth, or the facts 

 which make manifest any truth, should first be presented to us ; so 

 readily is the mind impressed when not pre-occupied ; and when a 

 strong impression is made, be it ever so false, it is no easy matter to 

 free ourselves from it. From this circumstance we can readily foresee 

 the advantage which future generations will possess over those of 

 the present and especially those of former times. As the progress 

 of knowledge is certain, each day will lessen error and enlarge the 

 domains of truth ; and should man be true to his permanent interests, 

 error finally will cease to have existence. 



(Signed) Henry D. Rogers, Lardner Vanuxem, Richard C. 

 Taylor, Ebenezer Emmons, T. A. Conrad. 



[Note. — "We have just seen an engraving of a large Fucoid which 

 has very lately been found by Mr. Cunningham in the same Store- 

 ton quarry that has afforded Labyrinthodon and Rhyncosaurus foot- 

 marks, plainly showing how little resemblance an actual Fucoid bears 

 to the Ornithichnites. — Edit.] 



natural history as a branch of education. 

 To the Editors of the Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 



Dear Sirs, — It may be interesting to some of your readers to know, 

 that the importance of Natural History as a branch of education* for 

 the Christian ministry, has been recognised by the different Presbyte- 

 rian bodies of this part of the empire. To the Reformed Presbyte- 

 rian Synod (the Covenanters) belongs the honour of being the first 

 to assign to this study a place in the College curriculum of its stu- 

 dents. By a letter from the Natural History Society of Belfast, the 

 subject was brought before the General Assembly of the Presbyte- 

 rian church in Ireland at its late annual meeting in this town ; and 

 their College Committee, to whom the matter was referred, passed 

 a resolution strongly recommending the students under its care to 

 make themselves " extensively acquainted with Natural History in 

 its several departments, not only on account of the great importance 

 of the science, but of its special bearing on the sublime sphere of 

 the Christian ministry." 



The same subject was, in like manner, brought under the consi- 



* [Mr. Patterson's Pamphlet on Natural History as a Branch of Educa- 

 tion will be found reviewed in the preceding volume of the Annals, p. 498. 

 —Ed.] 



