1868. ] Reviews. 497 
DANA’S SYSTEM OF MINERALOGY.* 
As the previous edition of this standard work was exhausted eight 
years ago, a re-issue has long been anxiously anticipated. Indeed, 
there is so deplorable a poverty of mineralogical literature in the 
English language, that the student can ill afford that any work of 
value should remain inaccessible. The failing health of Dr. Dana, 
coupled with a desire on his part to introduce certain improve- 
ments into the present edition, has tended to delay the publication 
from time to time. At length, however, with the co-operation of 
Professor Brush, he is enabled to give us the long-expected volume. 
On opening the book—a bulky octavo of nearly 900 closely- 
printed pages—one feels somewhat disappointed to find that, with 
the exception of about fifty pages of introductory matter, the 
present edition embraces only the descriptive portion which formed 
the second volume of the earlier work. Although the preface is 
silent on this point, we understand that the author proposes to issue 
a new edition of his first volume in the shape of an independent 
treatise. 
Among the many improvements noticeable in the volume before 
us, we may especially allude to the introduction of a system of 
historical synonymy,—a feature which greatly enhances the value 
of the work, since it forms a guide in tracing the history of any 
given species. The consultation of original authorities for these 
synonyms must have involved a considerable amount of literary 
research. This research has led the author to a revision of our 
mineralogical nomenclature, by which he attempts to recognize, as 
far as possible, the law of priority in selection of names. This has 
of course necessitated the revival of many obsolete names, whilst 
an attempt to secure uniformity of nomenclature has led to the 
introduction of many new ones.t Thus, for example, Rock Salt is 
described under the new name of Halite, whilst Zinc-blende is to be 
found under Glocker’s old name of Sphalerite. In other cases, the 
terms are only modified by altering their terminations into ze, and 
in this way we get such names as Galenite, Pyrrhotite, Castorite, 
&c. Again, Kupfernickel is termed Néccolite, and our hybrid 
adjective nickeliferous assumes the more consistent latinized form 
of neceoliferous. Indeed “ nickeliferous ” is not a better word than 
“copperiferous.” Nevertheless it is doubtful whether such inno- 
vations will hold their ground, in spite of their introduction under 
the prestige of so respected an authority as our author. 
* «A System of Mineralogy: Descriptive Mineralogy, comprising the most 
recent Discoveries.’ By James Dwight Dana, aided by George Jarvis Brush, 
5th edition. Svo. New York, 1868. 
+ For an exposition of Dana’s views on ‘ Nomenclature,’ see ‘ Quarterly Journal 
of Science, Jan., 1868, p. 105. 
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