14 INTEODUCTION. . IS. 



torical species. But since Physiography is entirely inde- 

 pendent of the system, and consequently also of the 

 systematic nomenclature ; the general descriptions will he 

 applicable to any system, provided the terminology employ- 

 ed be sufficiently accurate. Any nomenclature can be 

 made use of in this part of the science, because the arbitrary 

 names in every instance can easily be exchanged for the 

 systematic denominations. The Descriptive part of Mi- 

 neralogy has been hitherto the only one, towards which the 

 labours of naturalists have been directed ; and it is solely 

 to them that we are indebted for the progress of our infor- 

 mation respecting the products of inorganic Nature. 



To the Descriptive part of Mineralogy must be referred 

 all those representations of the objects, as drawings, models, 

 &c. which are executed with the view of giving a more com- 

 prehensive idea of these objects themselves ; but they belong 

 to Terminology, if they are intended to elucidate certain 

 particular properties of the minerals, as the drawings and 

 models in Crystallography, which are employed for the sake 

 of developing the whole theory of Crystallisation. 



. 18. IDEA OF NATUKAIXHISTORY. 



Natural History is the science, which enables 

 us to find the Systematic Denomination of any 

 natural production (. 3.), if its Natural-Histori- 

 cal Properties be given or known ; and, vice versa, 

 from the Denomination being given, to find the 

 Natural Quality of a body. Mineralogy being one 

 of the three departments of Natural History, is 

 the same to the Mineral Kingdom (. 10.), as 

 Natural History in general, is to the whole material 

 Nature (. &). 



Lcge artis mutuo noscatur planta ex nomine ct nomcn ex 

 planta ; utrumque ex proprto characlere ; in illo scripto, in 

 hac delineato ; tcrtiits non admittatur. LINN, Phil, Bot. 261. 



