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extent of the different rocks, and to explain the structure of our 
country by the publication of memoirs and sections; but the 
work is very far from being exhaustive. 
Professor Edward Forbes once remarked to the effect, that 
when the geological survey of a country had been completed then 
the time had arrived for the working out and true understanding 
of the geology to begin. It would not be becoming on my part 
further to refer to the works of the Survey, than to state that 
they may generally be taken to furnish a sort of index of what is 
known of the geology, and as a guide to more detailed research. 
From their very nature they must leave in a great measure untold 
any account of the physical and natural history of the by-gone 
times, of which the rocks are the records, It has been remarked 
that the members of the Geological Survey, as a rule, overlook 
the importance of paleontology, but it must be remembered that 
from the very nature of his work the Surveyor cannot linger by 
the way to collect fossils, while the effects of a hard day’s work in 
the field are to render very close application in the evening rather 
the exception than the rule. 
For my own part I recall with pleasure the many hours spent 
in rambling over the hills and vales of Somersetshire, and it has 
been with feelings of great regret that I have left many an 
interesting and picturesque locality with little expectation of 
returning again, unless indeed the future publication of the 
Ordnance 6in. maps be attended with a call for a new geological 
survey of the county. Perhaps the future researches of Somerset- 
shire geologists may render this the more necessary. 
