ao oriii\i-<! FIELD-GEOLOGY 



be most advantageously conducted. IK m 

 undertake the collecting himself, or he may be able to 

 employ a trained assistant, and direct him to the localities 

 whence specimens are to IK I'.ut in tin first in 



stance, his own efforts must be directed to the investiga- 

 tion of the geological structure of the region. Tin 

 specimens required for his purpose in the early stages 

 of his work do not involve much trouble. 1 1 e 

 ran detach them and carry them off as he goes, 

 while he leaves the full collection to be made 

 wards. 



It is of paramount importance that the field-geologist 

 should go to his work as lightly equipped as possible. 

 His accoutrements should be sufficient for their purpose, 

 and eminently portable. The reader may judge of the 

 portability which may be secured, when he learns that he 

 may carry on his person, at the same moment, all the 

 instruments necessary for a geological investigation, even 

 in the detailed manner adopted in the Geological Survey 

 of this country, and that yet, although a fully-equipped 

 field-geologist, he need not betray his occupation by any 

 visible implement. The want of such tokens of hi ^ 

 often greatly perplexes rustic observers to whom his 

 movements are a fruitful source of speculation. He may 

 find himself, for instance, taken at different times and 

 places for postman, doctor, farmer, rattle-dealer, travelling- 

 showman, country-gentleman, gamekeeper, poacher, tem- 

 perance-lecturer, gauger, clergyman, play-actor, and a 

 generally suspicious character. One of my colleagues in 

 eological Survey, who had just taken quarters in a 

 village ached for some time by the police, under 



