. 256. PHYSIOGRAPHY. 13 



clear and distinct image of the species ; without, however, 

 too much encroaching upon the uniformity of the collective 

 descriptions, as far as this may be consistent with the qua- 

 lities of the species described. 



The collective descriptions of the species form one of the 

 most important subjects of the Natural History of the Mi- 

 neral Kingdom. Although they represent the mineral 

 species by themselves, not paying any attention to their 

 resemblance to others, yet they effect this in the mi- 

 nutest detail, and to the greatest possible completeness, and 

 hence they contain all the natural-historical information, pro- 

 perly so called, relative to the mineral productions. Cha- 

 racter naturalls (. 242. 243.) generum plantarum fundamen- 

 turn est, quo detltutus nuttus de genere rite judicabit ; adeoque 

 dbsolutum fundamentum cognitionis plantarum at et erit* 

 L.TN N. Phil. Bot. 1 89. This knowledge, however, is still very 

 imperfect. For mineralogists have hitherto attached too 

 much importance to composition and other subordinate sub- 

 jects, whilst the study of what alone is capable of bringing 

 the collective descriptions of mineral species nearer perfec- 

 tion, has comparatively been too much neglected. Hence 

 the accurate investigation of the natural-historical proper- 

 ties of individuals, upon which this chiefly depends, cannot 

 be too strongly recommended for the promotion of minera- 

 logical science. I trust that in these inquiries the perusal 

 of the present work will remove a great part of those dif- 

 ficulties, which have formerly originated from a too general 

 want of crystallographic knowledge. Crystallographic in- 

 formation being now rendered more accessible, and its ap- 

 plication shewn by a great number of examples; in short, 

 the path being open which ought to be followed, we may 

 justly expect, that, within a short period, the zeal and 

 perseverance at present bestowed upon the study of Mine- 

 ralogy, will greatly improve the collective descriptions of 

 the mineral species. 



