PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 19 



large proportion of the now prevailing liability to error. I do 

 not wish to be understood as trying to discourage comparisons 

 of the geology of different parts of the earth with each other. 

 On the contrary, this ought constantly to be done ; but what I 

 wish to insist upon is that the study of each separate division of 

 the eaith should not be trammelled by a standai"d erected for 

 another. 



I have shown that the stud}' of geology and paleontology has 

 always been interdependent ; but among certain geologists and 

 paleontologists, respectively, there has been manifested a dispo- 

 sition to pursue the study of each branch separately, if not 

 independently. A large part of the paleontological work which 

 has been published has been done by men who have made 

 no systematic study of field geology, or none in connection with 

 their paleontological work. Much of their work has evidently 

 been done in the belief that the paleontologist can sit in his study 

 and fix with precision the geological horizons and the order 

 of succession of the formations from which every collection 

 submitted to him may come. If a difference of opinion in tliis 

 respect has arisen between the field geologist and the paleontol- 

 ogist, each has contended for the truth of his own position, and 

 each has often been shown to be in error. 



It is therefore evident that the field geologist and paleontol- 

 ogist must work in concert. Indeed, the field geologist who 

 ignores the use of fossils, as some have affected to do. is sure to 

 burthen science with the results of worthless work ; and the 

 paleontologist who does not go to the field and study there the 

 formations from which his fossils have been obtained is sure to 

 produce results of work which will be worthy of the condemna- 

 tion of both geologists and biologists. 



But I am confident that there is a better day near at hand for 

 the science to which so many able men have devoted their lives ; 

 nnd that the evils to which I have called your attention are already 



