482 Chronicles of Science. | July, 
graphical considerations, the authors are enabled to show that the 
Permian strata of the north-west of England consist of three members, 
namely, the Rothliegende or Lower Permian, the Magnesian Lime- 
stone (Zechstein) or Middle Permian, and the sandstones in question 
forming the Upper Permian; and they bring forward this fact as an 
argument against the adoption of the new term * Dyas,” proposed by 
Dr. Geitnitz. Whether this particular view of the relations of the 
Permian Rocks in the north-west of England be right or wrong, we 
do not see why an old-established name, against which there can be 
no possible objection that is not frivolous, should be abandoned for a 
new one, which is very likely not to be appropriate in all cases. 
The term “Trias” was adopted for two reasons: firstly, because it 
was proposed by von Alberti, who first clearly showed the relations 
and connection between the different members of the formation ; 
and, secondly, because it was found to be appropriate. On the same 
principle, the term Permian, which was proposed by Sir R. I. 
Murchison, and has answered every purpose for so many years, having 
been used by every writer on the subject since it was established, may 
surely be allowed to remain now, when there is no good cause for 
displacing it ; for although Dyas and Trias may sound well together, 
Geology is not Poetry, that it should reject reason for want of rhyme ! 
5. The Annual Report of the Council contains this year a résumé 
of the contents of the Society's Museum, in addition to the usual 
statements respecting the general condition of the Society, which 
appears to be extremely prosperous. The remarks on the Collections 
of Specimens of Rocks and Fossils are chiefly utilitarian in character, 
as they refer more to the value of the collections as materials for 
study, and to the facilities afforded by the Society for that purpose, 
than to the absolute scientific worth of the Museum. We very much 
doubt whether this is the legitimate light in which the matter should 
be looked at, but to discuss it thoroughly would require us at once to 
plunge into the depths of that fundamental question— What is the proper 
object for the Society to keep in view, as the end and aim for which 
they retain and keep in order a large Collection at a great expense. 
This matter, though very important to the Society, can scarcely be 
argued here; but so far as we understand it, it appears to us that 
the Museum of a learned Society is designed, not so much to instruct 
the tyro, as to form a storehouse of classical specimens, such as have 
been specially described in the Society’s own publications or else- 
where, as well as those from remote and little known localities, 
which have never been determined. Of course, specimens for com- 
parison are indispensable, but mere show-specimens and endless 
varieties of rocks and fossils from all sorts of localities—duplicates 
in all essential respects —are out of place. 
The excellent collection of British Rocks and Fossils at the 
Museum of Practical Geology renders the Society’s British Collection, 
so incomplete as it is, of comparatively slight value, and it seems a 
question worthy the consideration of the Council, whether it would 
not be advisable to re-arrange their British specimens on the same 
plan as that on which their Foreign Collection is now disposed, 
