Cleaveland on Mineralogy and Geology. 393 
Chapter II. Properties of Minerals.—The aggregate pro- 
perties of minerals constitute their characters, which are divided 
into physical and chemical. Crystallization, as the most important 
physical character, takes the lead. The student will find much 
information, clearly detailed, relating to this subject; but as 
originality cannot be expected on so often repeated a theme, 
we shall not stop to examine it in detail. We wish the author, 
had devoted a page or two in this chapter, under the head 
“ Forms of the integrant particles,” to Dr. Wollaston’s Theory of 
the spherical or spheroidal form of the ultimate particles of 
crystals. To pass over so interesting a subject with no other 
notice than the mere statement, in a note of three lines, that 
such ideas have been entertained by some philosophers, is, to say 
the least of it, a very censurable neglect in an elementary 
treatise. Dr. Wollaston’s ‘ simple and satisfactory elucidation 
of the principles of crystalline arrangement, has solved the 
difficulties, and remedied the inconsistencies of all previous 
explanations of the phenomena* ;” and the omission we com- 
plain of has, consequently, left a deplorable gap in the subject. 
The next article is on the structure of secondary forms, in which 
the laws of decrements, &c., are explained in the usual manner, 
and by references to the usual figures. Beudant’s experiments 
on the effect of a foreign substance, though in a state of mixture 
only, to modify the crystalline form; and Daniells, on its de- 
velopement by solution, are briefly noticed in this place. In 
the Description of the Goniometer, a plate should have been given 
of the reflective goniometer of Dr. Wollaston, as well as a more 
minute account of that instrument, and the mode of using it. 
As Carangeau’s, or the common one, is figured, we do not com- 
prehend why a drawing of the more complex and superior in- 
strument has been withheld. 
Description of Crystals. —Useful and clear, but not susceptible 
of abridgment. 
Nomenclature of Crystals. This division is a literal transla- 
tion, or very nearly so, of that part of the first volume of Haiiy’s 
Traité de Minéralogie, which contains the Principes de la No- 
menclature ; our author employs the original terms, ‘ for the 
analogy of our language does not appear to justify a literal 
translation of many of the terms of this nomenclature.” We 
do not quite see the necessity of this ; in some cases it may be 
difficult to translate them into English words in common use, 
but are not many of the original terms made for the occasion, as 
monostique, plagiedre, metastatique? &c. In fact, they are 
Greek roots with French branches, and might just as well have 
English ones; and as to the rest, surely, in an English work, 
cubic, cuboidal, tetrahedral, Kc., sound and look much better 
than cubique, cuboide, tetraedre, &c. 
* Daniell. Journal of Science, vol. i, p. 49. 
