266 



MINERALOGY. 



[Sect. VIII. 



'^ 





J 



the rills of water descendino; the sides of 



the hills. Ex- 



cellent eyiderice may thus be otten obtained, and the true 

 position of the coal-beds found. In selecting specimens 



of coal in such cases, it rarely happens that a portion of 

 it can be procured fairly exhibiting its qualities, injury 



having arisen from atmospheric influences. If the out- 

 crop of the coal can be attained, it is always desirable to 

 penetrate as far as circumstances wdll permit into the 



body of the bed, thence selecting a fair specimen. When 



this cannot be done, and a voyager often has but little 

 time for his researches, fragiiierits lying about should be 

 selected which may appear the least decomposed, and if 

 these be different qualities, as if of portions of different 



b 



eds, they also should receive attention. 



In all cases 



wliere fossil plants are mingled with the coal or associated 

 beds, specimens as various as Ian be obtained should be 

 secured. These have a geological bearing which may 



often turn out of great practical importance in some 



w 



given region. 



It scarcely requires remark that the foregoing observa- 

 tions are but hints which it is hoped may be useful to 

 those engaged in voyages of discovery and survey, or who, 

 on more general service, may feel inclined, whenever fit- 

 ting opportunities may present themselves, to devote some 

 portion of the time not occupied by their professional 

 duties to the study of minerals, either for purely scientific 

 purposes, for their useful employment, or for both com- 

 bined. That these opportunities do present themselves 

 we well know, or rather if sought will be found more 

 frec^uently than might be imagined. Many a walk along 

 a coast may thus be advantageously turned to account, 



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