1897.] The Geological Congress in Russia. 957 



2. Establishment of rules governing introduction of new 

 terms in stratigraphic nomenclature. 



3. Adoption of definite principles of classification of rocks 

 and of petrographic nomenclature. 



The discussion of the first question showed clearly the opin- 

 ion of most of the geologists present that the accepted artificial 

 classification was the only admissable one, its abandonment 

 for what must necessarily as yet be a somewhat vague and ill- 

 defined substitute, being certain to result only in a state of 

 confusion in the science. 



Discussion of the second proposition centered upon papers 

 presented at an early meeting by Freeh, Breslau, Ueber Ab- 

 grenzungund Benennungder geologischen Schichtengruppen, 

 and by Bittner, Vienna, Vorschlage fiir eine Normiring der 

 Reglen der stratigraphischen Nomenclatur. 



The propositions of these writers as modified and accepted 

 by the Congress amounted to little more than a formal state- 

 ment of the ordinary practice of geologists with regard to new 

 names. They were in brief as follows : 



1. Introduction of a new stratigraphic term into the inter- 

 national nomenclature, should be based only on a well deter- 

 mined and peremptory scientific necessity, should be accom- 

 panied by full description bf deposits to which it is applied, 

 and should be founded on facts observed on more than a sin- 

 gle exposure. 



2. A name applied to any deposit in a definite way is not to 

 be used in another sense. 



3. Date of publication determines priority of terms. 



4. In giving new names to minuter stratigraphic subdivis- 

 ions, it is desirable to take paleontological characteristics as a 

 base. Geographic names should only be used in default of 

 the former, or for series of importance containing numerous 

 paleontological horizons. 



5. Names etymologically false or badly formed are to be re- 

 jected or corrected. 



One afternoon meeting was devoted to subjects of petro- 

 graphic character, and in order to facilitate discussion of the 

 general questions in that department, a special meeting of pet- 



