1868. | Mineralogy, Mining, and Metallurgy. «105 
far from constant, while in the oblique systems the results are so 
discordant as to show at once that their symmetry is dependent on 
something more than the mere chemical constitution of the species. 
For other illustrations of Dana’s curious theory, and for the manner 
in which he overcomes difficulties and reconciles discrepancies, the 
reader must refer to the original memoir already quoted. 
In a subsequent paper* Professor Dana follows up his subject, 
and discusses the chemical composition of the mineral silicates, 
reducing this complex class of bodies to two well-defined groups— 
the unisilicates and the bisilicates. 
Yet a third paper by this indefatigable author claims the atten- 
tion of the mineralogist.t The present state of mineralogical 
nomenclature undoubtedly calls for reform, and Dana does not 
hesitate to take the first step towards effecting so desirable an 
object. Advocating the uniform adoption of the termination 7ée, 
he proposes to change the existing names of minerals in all cases 
where it can be done without great inconvenience. Such a change 
has indeed been contemplated by other mineralogists, who have 
ventured to write galena galenite, and fluor fluorite. Tracing the 
origin of this ending zfe to the Greek and Roman naturalists, our 
author shows by examples from Pliny that every variety of name 
now applied to minerals was then in vogue, with the single 
exception of that introduced in honour of individuals—a class of 
names which, originating with Werner, has latterly grown to vast 
proportions. Dana further shows that it 1s chiefly the French 
mineralogists who have to answer for that want of systematic 
termination which disfigures our present nomenclature. Unfor- 
tunately, the Abbé Haiiy was extremely careless in this respect— 
“ giving names to minerals as a gardener might to his varieties of 
pinks and roses.” To show his utter disregard of uniformity, 
attention may be called to the following examples of his word- 
coining :—amphibole, analeime, cymophane, diallage, dipyre, epidote, 
harmotome, idocrase, mesotype, pleonaste, sphene, &c. Introduced 
under the prestige of so eminent an authority as Haiiy, such names 
were at once accepted in spite of their incongruous terminations ; 
and many subsequent mineralogisis in France, following the 
example of ther great master, have indulged in equal laxity of 
expression. But while the French mineralogists have thus trou- 
bled the science with their neglect of systematic nomenclature, it is 
pleasing to observe the persistence with which the Germans have 
adhered to the use of the termination 7. Even amid the multitude 
of minerals named by the veteran species-maker Breithaupt, this 
canon is but rarely departed from; the most notable departures 
being in the case of the mineral gemini, Castor and Pollux, and of 
* «Silliman’s American Journal,’ xliv., No, 131, p. 252. 
} Tbid., p. 145. 
