﻿Reports and Proceedings. 329 



his system being most easily understood by beginners, and most 

 convenient for giving a general knowledge of the principles of the 

 science. 



For use in calculations it is, however, much less satisfactory than 

 the method of Miller, and a concise exposition of Miller's system 

 has therefore been added in Appendix." A." 



The chapter on the physical characters of minerals has been 

 expanded to a considerable length, especially as regards their optical 

 properties, but not more so than was absolutely necessary in order 

 to make clearly intelligible the practical application of the principles 

 of optics to the study of crystals. 



The descriptive part, which, as already stated, has been made 

 subordinate to that of physical mineralogy, is identical in general 

 arrangement with that of Dana's " System of Mineralogy," to which 

 reference must still be made for fuller descriptions of many un- 

 certain species and varieties with descriptions of localities and 

 methods of occurrence. 



A large part of the figures are reproduced from Dana's System of 

 Mineralogy ; but 200 are new to this work, and greatly enhance its 

 interest and usefulness to the student. 



The chemical formulae given in the 5th edition of the System of 

 Mineralogy are only in part those of modern chemistry, but those 

 of the present work are uniformly in modern notation. 



In addition to Appendix "A," treating of Miller's Crystallography, 

 we have in Appendix "B" a most important chapter on the draw- 

 ing of figures of crystals, and " C," a series of Tables to be used 

 in the determination of minerals, whilst "D" is a Catalogue of 

 American localities of minerals essentially the same as that con- 

 tained in the last edition of the " System," but with considerable 

 additions derived from various printed sources and from private 

 communications. 



The book is one which reflects great credit on its authors, and 

 cannot fail to prove a most acceptable addition to our series of 

 higher text-books, for which no doubt there will be as great a 

 demand as for the several editions of Dana's S3'stem of Mineralogy. 



T. D. 



K,EI^OiaTS J^JS^JD IPIiOGEIEIDIIsra-S. 



Gkologioal Society of London. — I. — May 23, 1877. — Professor 

 P. Martin Duncan, M.B., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. 



The President read a letter from C. J. Lambert, Esq., announcing 

 that his father, the late C. Lambert, Esq., F.G.S., had left by will 

 the sum of £25,000 to be distributed in gratuities to persons in his 

 employ, and in gifts to scientific societies. The distribution of this 

 amount was left to the judgment of Mr. C. J. Lambert, who allotted 

 the sum of £500 to the Geological Society. The President further 

 announced that the sum of £500 had already been paid to the 

 Society, and would be invested for its benefit. 



The President also announced that a letter had been received from 



