Geological Progress, 3 



tology, nor can he take up pala3ontology as a whole ; he must devote 

 himself particularly to one or other of the great classes of animals, 

 or to plants whose remains are preserved to us in a fossil state. 



The testimony of a man who would undertake to name a collec- 

 tion of igneous rocks, and at the same time undertake the identifica- 

 tion of a series of fossil bones, shells, corals, or other organic re- 

 mains, would be received with a certain amount of caution. 



The geologist of fifty years ago is different from the geologist of 

 the present day, and although even now there are some who have 

 added largely to our knowledge on many branches of geological 

 inquiry, their number is limited. Geologists should be acquainted 

 with all branches of their science, and indeed possessed of the lead- 

 ing facts in other branches of inquiry, but they cannot expect to 

 become authorities in more than one detailed subject. As an illus- 

 tration, one would be surprised to hear that Prof. Eamsay was about. 

 to describe a new species of fossil bird, or that Prof. Huxley had 

 elucidated the stratigraphical relations of the Devonian rocks; that 

 Prof. Prestwich would report on the affinities of Graptolites, or 

 that Mr. Etheridge had undertaken the microscopical examination 

 of igneous rocks. And yet each one would naturally be acquainted 

 with the general results of study in each department of Geology. 



The literature of the science is s-uch a vast subject that, before 

 adding to it, one must necessarily learn what has been previously 

 done, and whether one is in possession of any facts not made public, 

 or of any explanations or theories not previously suggested. To 

 study the literature of all branches of geological and palsDontological 

 research would indeed be a Herculean task. 



It is true that our standard manuals and text-books put us in 

 possession of the leading facts and conclusions, but our magazines 

 and journals are ever increasing the number of facts and of observers. 



The study of rock-formation and of palseontology is one requiring 

 a knowledge of all that has been done, and is being done, in all parts 

 of the world. 



The ''Geological Eecord" may be looked upon as a sign of the 

 times, the first volume being a classified list with short abstracts of 

 all papers, etc., relating to Geology, Mineralogy, and Palgeontology, 

 published during the year 1874. Geologists will be greatly indebted 

 to Mr. Whitaker, who has edited this work, and has also prepared 

 several local lists of papers, etc., referring to the Geology of England 

 and Wales. 



A reference to the Geological Eecord will show how many, often 

 important, papers are little known, owing to their being published in 

 some local journal not readily accessible. Our Field Clubs and 

 Natural History Societies contain much valuable information that is 

 apt to be thus lost sight of. 



The original work of the present day must necessarily be of a 

 more detailed nature than that of former years. As Buckland truly 

 observed, " Where the earlier geologists traversed miles, we must now- 

 a-days be content to map yards." And this is very apparent when 



