QUALIFICATIONS OF A GEOLOGIST. 67 



a skeleton out of its fragmentary parts, and restore to their 

 natural places in the series, the animal forms that inhabited 

 the ancient earth. He should possess the accomplishments 

 of a draughtsman, and, to some extent, the skill of a sur- 

 veyor. He should be proficient in the learned languages, to 

 enable him to deal with the delicate question of nomencla- 

 ture; and should, in like manner, be versed in modern 

 tongues, for the purpose of corresponding and conversing 

 with foreign philosophers, and reading their works. It is 

 obvious that pursuits thus varied and extensive can scarcely 

 be combined in any one individual : 



" JSTatura certS 



Multa tegit sacra involucra, nee ullis 

 Fas est scire, quidem, mortalrbus dmnia ! 



Since, therefore, none of our living geologists can boast the 

 whole of these attainments, though many possess a consider- 

 able part thereof; and since the mastery over subjects so 

 profound and extensive is obviously not to be acquired by 

 a single person, geology becomes, in an eminent degree, a 

 co-operative pursuit. Accordingly, our best geologists, while 

 they devote due attention to the general objects of the 

 science, confine their energies to some single department, 

 and bring to the general stock the information they indi- 

 vidually . acquire. In a science thus dependent on many, 

 the efforts of all are useful; and while no labourer can 

 call the territory his own, even the tyro may contribute to 

 its progress. A very moderate acquaintance with its leading 

 principles and auxiliary studies will authorise us to commence 

 our career; an equally moderate share of application will 

 enable us to pursue it with satisfaction. When we have 

 acquired the general outlines of the science when we are 

 acquainted with the nature and classification of the various 

 formations when we can distinguish aqueous from igneous 

 deposits, and stratified from unstratified rocks when we 

 can specify the sedimentary deposits, and recognise them by 

 their distinguishing features of mineral character, superposi- 

 tion, and characteristic fossils when we know some ten or 

 twelve of the simple minerals, and can detect their com- 

 bination in rocks when we are acquainted with the genera 

 of shells appertaining to each formation, and have filled a 

 few drawers with fossils, and can bestow on each its local 



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