Fourth Stipplement to Dana's Mineralogy, 109 



Charles U. Shepard: A Treatise on Mineralogy. Third edition, Part II, pp. 

 241-452, completing the work IT ew Haven, 1857. — The work presents the latest 

 results of Professor Shepard's mineralogical researches. It contnins descriptions of 

 the proposed species mentioned brietly in the " Report on the Canton Mine, Georgia," 

 (see our last Supplement,) and adds other new species to those of that pamphlet — 

 making in all for the past twelve montlis, twelve species — namely, Xanthitane, Py- 

 rmnelane^ Pyroclasite^ Glaubapatite, Epiglauhite^ Cherokme, HifchcocJcite, Ilari'isiie, 

 GlossecoUite, MoronoUte, Raatolyte, Nitrammite, Besides these, the work contains the 

 new names Bismuth aurite and Paraihorite for minerals before partially described 

 by him ; and the following new names for species of yet unascertained existence, 

 being known to occur only as a constituent in solutions, in sotne state of combination; 

 Tiz:., Natrodine (lodid of sodium), NatrohromUe (Bromid of sodium), Luochalyhite 

 (bicarbonate of iron), LuocalcUe (bicarbonate of lime), LuodiaUogite (bicarbonate of 

 manganese), Luomagnesite (bicarbonate of magnesia); and also Perlimonite (hydra- 

 ted oxyd of iron deposited from stagnant waters). In addition to these there are 

 other new names made from chemical names by a system of compression, — Carhacid 

 (from carbonic acid), Carhhydrogen (carburetted hydrogen), Muriatacid (muriatic 

 acid), Vitriolacid (vitriolic acid), Carhammonite (carbonate of ammonia), PhospJtam- 

 vionite (phosjihate of ammonia), Salmiak (sal-ammoniac), the German word being 

 directly adopted. 



The naming of salts in solution is anticipating, not other mineralogists simply, but 

 nature. We do not know in what state of combination iodid of sodium may be, in 

 a solution — whether alone or in a double salt, — or whether the same in all waters, 

 mineral springs and brines, — or what the proportion of water present. The name 

 cannot represent any particular species, being applied to what is unknown. It 

 would seem soon enough to christen the thing after it had made its appearance. 

 This remark applies to all the Luo species (which prefix, by the way, should be Lyo, 

 aa the Greek u is changed to y in English). Perlimoniie is another case of fore- 

 stalling investigation. No evidence is given that the material differs from described 



hydrates. 



On page 396, allusion is made to the Ilydrophilite and Ewnchlorid of Hausmann, 

 as species that are met with only in solution. But referring to Hausmann'sMiner- 

 alogy, we find the first mentioned as a deposit found sometimes with anhydrite and 

 gypsum ; and tlie latter as an earthy coating, and as having been observed by Haug- 

 manu liimself in 1819 at Vesuvius as a volcanic sublimate along with sal-ammoniac. 

 Scacchi notices the species in his late work. 



Although we esteem Professor Shepard as a friend, and estimate highly his acute- 

 ness and energy in his favorite science, and his great success in tle\'elopin^ the n^in- 

 eralogy of this country, in which he has had no equal, we still cannot hesitate to 

 dissent from some of his views, and regret the haste with which lie proposes new 

 ppocies. We cannot adopt the principle he avows on page 44 of this volume, espe- 

 cially as he exemplifies it. It is easy, on finding a mineral that looks unfamiliar, to 

 make a few trials, and then cast it on the science with a name, to let it take its 

 chance, hit or miss — the latter no (?) loss, the former all gain. But it is a wrong to 

 the science. An imperfect blowpipe examination, or an analysis that is but a rude 

 approximation, affords no satisfactory basis for a species. Moreover, stating the 

 supposed composition in words, without giving the evidence from actual trials, is 

 still less satisfactory ; for such an assertion can have no weii^ht: it is an intancjible 

 mode of presenting facts which does not belong to experimental science. When 

 an author, after a chemical investigation, has published a species, consisting of pure 

 titanic acid, as a tiianate of yltria, and a year later, as niobate of yttria and thorhta, 

 it is his own fault if a cloud of doubt rests over what he may afterwaids describe: 

 and if other examples of error from time to time appear, the chmd must deepen, and 

 prove an embarrassment and vexation at least to those who would inquire earnestly, 

 as to his species. Tliere is thus an injury to the science ; and also, not less, to one 

 who still deserves honorable mention for his mineralogical discoveries. It is not to 

 be expected that the best mineralogist should generally be the best iuialyst. But 

 where his own powers fail, he may obtain help of tho«e who are able to give it. 



We do not propose to criticise the work at large, either as to its crystallography, 

 chemistry, or general descriptions. But there are some points connected mainly 

 with American species, on which remark should be made. Tlie numerous typo- 

 graphical errors in the work are much to be regretted. 



