482 APPENDIX. 



enced may i.mpposo, they rarely form accurate ideas of 

 visible objects, or can fix the characters of those in 

 their memories. It is the sculptor alone who is so 

 acquainted with every portion and movement of the 

 body, that he can represent them in marble, as it is 

 the painter's memory which is faithful to every form 

 and colour of the landscape : while it is to the prac- 

 tice of their art, and the habit of watching and re- 

 cording carefully every visible object, that they arc 

 indebted for that accuracy of observation and fidelity 

 of memory, which none can acquire in any other man- 

 ner. And thus docs the art of drawing produce habi- 

 tual accuracy of discernment ; qualifying also the ob- 

 server to remember and to record what escapes the 

 unpractised eye. 



To the geologist, this art is invaluable, since there is 

 much that words can never convey ; while it prevents 

 endless circumlocutions and details, which, even when 

 given, leave much in obscurity or doubt. A few sim- 

 ple strokes will thus save pages of description ; though 

 it must not be imagined that the power of producing 

 these will suffice. No one will trust to such hiero- 

 glyphics, from him who has not proved his power of 

 recording his facts in all the minuteness of accurate 

 detailj and, I may add, with those embellishments that 

 indicate his knowledge of art : showing that his slen- 

 derest sketches are the abstractions of a philosopher as 

 well as an artist. With respect to the details, I may 

 be brief, in saying, first, that practice and facility in 

 landscape are indispensable, since all the greater fea- 

 tures of geology belong to this department. If it 

 must be often required to draw organic fossils, under 

 a very limited branch of the art, so will such practice 

 give facility in recording the minuter geological ap- 

 pearances, so frequently interesting, or indispensable; 



