336 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. X. 



all the ordinary minerals. Thanks to the traning of our schools 

 of science, an improvenient in this respect is alread}' noticeable, 

 as is shown in the discoveries made in the mines of our western 

 states and territories during the past few years. While the 

 service done for mineralogy by our geological surveys is grate- 

 fullv acknowledfrcd, we feel we have a rioht to demand much 

 more from them in the future. Mineralogy has been too largely 

 looked upon as a guide to the discovery of useful ores and mine- 

 rals and not as a matter for scientific study; fortunately during 

 the past decade the discoveries in optical mmeralogy, and their 

 importance in the determination of the constituent minerals of 

 the crystalline rocks, have led many G^eoloaists to again recognize 

 the desirability of a knowledge of our science. Much will be 

 accomplished if those in charge of geological surveys will direct 

 competent persons to make observations, not only on the main 

 mineral constituents of rocks but also on the manner of occur- 

 rence of individual minerals. The careful inspection of quarries 

 and mines is ufreatlv to be desired. These are rich sources for 

 minerals, but unless constant watchfulness is exercised valuable 

 material for science is in danger of being buried out of sight. 

 It is too true that many of the most interesting discoveries al- 

 ready recorded seem to have been due more to the result of for- 

 tunate accident than of systematic and intelligent exploration. 

 If our trained mineralogists, instead of devoting most of their 

 attention to the examination of specimens in cabinets collected 

 by others would give more time to personal observation in the 

 field in the study of the order and manner of occurrence of 

 mineral species in place, our knowledge would doubtless be 

 greatly promoted. Again, if our wealthy amateurs could be 

 induced to spend their money as freely in the exploration of pro- 

 mising American localities as in the importation of costly Euro- 

 pean specimens, we might hope for more important discoveries, 

 and they could have the satisfaction not only of gaining novelties 

 for their collections, but incidentally they would do nmch to fos- 

 ter science. In order to keep pace with the progress of the 

 science, we need many more workers who will will devote them- 

 selves especially to mineralogical research, and we need more of 

 the spirit of the early workers. It is my belief that the number 

 of persons at present interested in the study here, either as 

 amateurs or investigators is relatively less than in 1825. The 

 mineralogy of to-day is a very different subject from the mine 



