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XXI. On the Determination of the Species, in Mineralogy, accord- 

 ing to the Principles of Professor MOHS, By WILLIAM 

 HAIDINGER, ESQ. F. R. S. EDIN. 



( Read November 15. 1824 J 



A. JUSTLY celebrated Naturalist * was of opinion, " that every 

 " distribution of mineral bodies, which is instituted before the 

 " determination of the species, must be mere confusion ; while, 

 " after having established it, according to fixed principles, no 

 " kind of distribution can be absolutely faulty." The distribu- 

 tion itself varies, along with the different principles of classifica- 

 tion, introduced for the purpose of obtaining a systematic ar- 

 rangement, conformable to the views of Natural History, of Che- 

 mistry, or of other sciences ; but the Species remains that unique 

 and unalterable point to which every system, and in fact every 

 inquiry, must be referred, if we wish to avail ourselves of the 

 prerogatives of the human mind, and preserve our information 

 in a scientific form. 



The correct determination of the species is equally important 

 to every branch of our knowledge, in regard to the objects of 

 nature; since there does not exist another general idea applicable 

 to the same extent, or equally fertile in producing order and 

 stability, within the daily increasing mass of observations. It is 



* DOLOMIEU, Sur la Philosophic Mineralogique, p. 113. Avant cPavoir prea- 

 lablement fonde Tespece, toute distribution n'est que confusion ; apres Tavoir etablie 

 sur des principes fixes, aucune distribution ne peut etre, jusqu' a un certain point, vi- 

 cieuse, parce qu'elle a toujours un fanal qui Teclaire^ un point de rappel d'ou partent 

 toutes les relations, et auquel toutes doivent concourir. 



