Mineralogy, according to the Principles of Professor MOHS. SOS 



systems, degraded to subspecies or varieties of carbonate of lime, 

 and sulphuret of iron * . 



These systems shew, that, in reality, they are not intended 

 for mineralogical purposes, but for exhibiting the present state 

 of our information respecting the chemical constitution of the 

 mineralogical species. They endeavour to exclude, in the for- 

 mation of the species, the influence of those properties which the 

 productions of inorganic nature possess in their natural state ; 

 but, it is evident, from the want of consistency in their different 

 parts, that they cannot arrive at their purpose, unless they ad- 

 mit, as their leading point of comparison, the species, determined 

 without the slightest influence of chemical properties or consi- 

 derations. 



Professor MOHS has succeeded in producing a definition of 

 this idea, founded entirely upon the comparison of those proper- 

 ties which may be observed while the minerals continue in their 

 natural state ; and it is the object of the present paper to point 

 out the course, and to develope the principles, conformable to 

 which he has arrived at this important result. 



There can be no doubt, that, in Mineralogy, as well as in Zoo- 

 logy and Botany, the species should comprehend the assemblage 

 of those individuals which are most closely allied to each other. 

 The exactness of the definition will therefore depend upon the 

 signification we attach to individuals, and to the degree of al- 

 liance necessary for joining them within one and the same spe- 

 cies. 



Natural History requires that an individual be a single body, 

 and, as such, by itself, fit to be an object of natural-historical 

 consideration. It implies unity of form, and does not presup- 

 pose the existence of, or connection with, another individual. 



* BECDANT, Traite elementaire de Mineraloffie, p. 406. 425. 

 VOL. X. 1'. II. Q Q 



A 



