648 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



since followed as the general practice of the school and now consid- 

 ered as one of its most fundamental features. 



This course, after various experiments, has finally developed 

 into a definite four-years' course of instruction, at the end of which 

 those members who have met all the requirements receive the di- 

 ploma of the school. The full four-years' course is designed to give 

 a thorough training in the fundamental principles of geological 

 science. Each year is given a series of fifteen lessons of two hours 

 each, partly laboratory, partly lecture, and fully illustrated with 

 specimens and diagrams. The first year's work is devoted to min- 

 eralogy. One introductory lecture is given on the principles of 

 chemistry as the basis of understanding the composition of minerals, 

 and the four following lessons are devoted to a study of the physical 

 properties, mainly crystallography. During the remaining lessons, 

 about one hundred and fifty of the commonest mineral species are 

 studied, the class being required to learn to recognize each species 

 and be able to tell its composition. 



The second year's work with lithology is carried on largely in 

 the same way as with mineralogy. At first a brief review is made 

 of the most important rock-forming minerals. Then all the com- 

 moner species of rocks are taken up and studied, so as to learn to 

 recognize each species at sight and to tell its composition. Besides 

 this, lectures are given upon the origin of the rocks and the deriva- 

 tion of their component materials, involving a large amount of 

 dynamical geology. 



During the third and fourth years are taken up, respectively, 

 structural and historical geology. Both these subjects are taught 

 largely by lectures, illustrated by charts and diagrams, a select set 

 of specimens for the table, and a few such specimens as can be passed 

 around the room. In the historical geology special care is taken 

 to furnish for class use as many specimens as possible of the typical 

 rocks and fossils of the various ages. It is nearly impossible to pro- 

 vide so abundantly, however, as for mineralogy and lithology. As 

 regards examinations, the methods used are as follows : The first half 

 hour of each exercise is taken up with answering questions or iden- 

 tifying specimens, the examinations in all cases being written. The 

 ground covered by each examination includes all that has been gone 

 over during that year previous to the examination. After the ex- 

 amination is finished, the instructor briefly answers and explains the 

 questions. The papers so handed in are marked by the instructor 

 and returned the following week. All of this serves to enable the 

 class to keep a comprehensive grasp of the subject constantly in 

 hand. At the end of each year's work a final examination of three 

 hours in length is given, covering the complete subject. The final 



