42 Reflections on some Mineraiogical Systems. 
the word is employed in the formation of the names calk- 
spar, schiefferspar, braunspar, bitterspar, flutspar, schever- 
spar, wulfelspar, among the acidiferous substances; and 
only in the names demantspar, feldspar, and skhillespar, 
among the earthy minerals.) 
4. Descriptive, in order to give an idea of the principal 
properties of minerals. There are six sources whence we 
should principally derive them, and four others which offer 
less advantage, 
a. Some very remarkable external character. The word 
heavy spar, from its weight ; olivin, from its colour; stink-, 
stone [ietid carbonated lime of Haiiy], from its odour, &c. 
b. Some physical or chemical property: as zeolite, in 
consequence of its effervescence by the action of fire ; mine 
of maguetic iron, &c. 
c. Some constituent principle of the mineral: but the 
uncertainty of analyses militates a little against this source, 
d. The usage of a mineral: as fire-stone [common flint, 
pyromacous silex, Linn, and Haiiy], fullers’ earth, por- 
celain earth, &c. ; 
J. Resemblance to certain other objects in the usage of 
common life: as pitch-stone, horn-stone, &c. 
The sources less proper for deriving names are compre- 
hended in the history of the miveral. 
a. Geographical situation; as calcedony, Labrador stone, 
&e. ; 
i. Nature of the soil: as mine of marshes, mine of mea- 
dows (monasterz, wiesenerz). 
c. The names of persons; but only when a philosopher 
has been the first to make known a mineral, its properties 
and uses: as Prebnite, Witherite, &c*. 
d. Some trait in the history of a mineral: as appatite. 
5. Short, as long names are difficult to pronounce 
and inconvenient to write and to remember. Two words 
at most should be employed. (The Germans have forgot- 
ten this rule in their language and in their names. Dichtes- 
grau-speis-glas-erz, is composed of five words.) Dense- 
* With this proviso it seems difficult to determine who may claim the 
- right to the honour of transferring his name to a mineral, and also whether 
his Christian or family name or title should be preferred. Should the dis- 
coverer not happen to be an author or professor, it appears that he has no 
right to the honour; and if he carry the mineral to Werner or any of his 
disciples, then it may lawfully be baptized with the name of the professor 
of Freyberg,.or any of his followers who are called /earned. ‘The folly and 
vulgarity of such a system of nomenclature must be sufficiently evident; 
and were any proof wanting of its total inadequacy, the very example cited 
sill furnish it, as every English reader must naturally ascribe the name 
Witherite rather to Dr. Withers than Withering. —Trans, - 
grise 
