16 INTRODUCTION. . 19. 



with the principles of Natural History; without which, it 

 is but too easy to miss the way to its attainment. An- 

 other very material object is the correct application of 

 these principles to the Mineral Kingdom ; for the best 

 and most perfect instrument is of no utility to those who 

 are not acquainted with its employment. 



Lastly, a certain degree ef skill is required in recog- 

 nising and finding out the connexion of those forms which, 

 in Mineralogy, are called regular. In order to facilitate 

 the acquisition of this, some mathematical knowledge is ne- 

 cessary. 



After having become sufficiently acquainted with Ter- 

 minology, the surest and shortest way for the beginner 

 lo proceed, is to apply at once to Nature itself. This may 

 be effected by means of the Characteristic, which, accor- 

 ding to the rules laid down, under the fourth Head, must 

 be employed in order to acquire a certain degree of prac- 

 tice, in the determination of individuals occurring in Na- 

 ture. This leads to an intimate acquaintance with the 

 minutest details, and thus becomes the basis of informa- 

 tion of greater extent. 



If the student has an opportunity of examining well 

 arranged collections, he will be enabled to acquire general 

 ideas, and form general views, in a much shorter period 

 of time than would be possible by the comparatively slow, 

 yet detailed and sure processes of the Determinative part 

 of Mineralogy. In collections of this kind, the determina- 

 tion of the species must be correct, and their arrangement 

 conformable to the general principles of Natural History. 

 Collections otherwise arranged, can be of little use to the 

 beginner ; on the contrary, they may be prejudicial to his 

 future progress, in as much as they confound his ideas ; 

 and indeed they may be said to be useful only to those, who 

 wish to enlarge their information, by observation and in- 

 quiry. 



There exist but few Mineralogical works, which can pro- 

 perly be recommended to a beginner. The following enu- 

 meration contains those most useful for this purpose. 



