THE 
GEOLOGICAL MAGAZINE. 
No. XIV.—AUGUST 1865. 
GEOLOGICAL PROGRESS. No. 2. 
FIELD-CLUBS AND LOCAL GEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES. 
AVERY good general looks from time to time to his ‘ muster- 
roll,’ to see that his force maintains its efficiency; and it 
behoves the Geologist no less, who sees his front ranks thinned 
by the loss of such men as Horner, Portlock, Falconer, Bronn, 
Hitchcock, and Woodward, to look to his reserves for fresh 
investigators to fill their places and keep up the efficiency of 
our oreat Geological army. 
One of the best sources of supply must of necessity be looked 
for among the members of the Geological Survey, a corps com- 
posed of picked men from all parts, and whose position in the 
country affords them opportunities superior to those of any 
other class of students. But, although special training is most 
important, we must remember that some of our very best living 
Geologists are men who first became noted in connection with 
their own district; and having worked that well, they were 
better fitted to comprehend, a wider field. Professor Ramsay, 
for example, was chosen Local Director of the Geological Sur- 
vey of Great Britain in 1845, through having made himself a 
name as a Scotch Geologist by preparing model maps and sec- 
tions of the Island of Arran, which attracted general attention 
at the Glasgow Meeting of the British Association in 1840, 
and directly influenced his translation from Glasgow to the head 
of the British Survey. Bristol can also take credit to herself 
that one of her best-known local men is now Paleontologist to 
the Survey. 
Thus it seems to us that, in looking over the work done by 
the Field-clubs, we are watching the progress of rising men in 
various districts; and although some, like Dr. Wright of 
Cheltenham, are among the Tinga veterans, yet many more are 
young men who may eyentually attain to the highest position 
VOL, II.—NO. XIV. Z 
