37 



in 1851, and is still continued, will be found much to interest 

 the investigator in any branch of palaeontology. 



The " Palaeontographical Society of London," established in 

 1847, has also issued a series of volumes containing valuable 

 memoirs in various branches of Palaeontology. These two 

 publications together are a storehouse of knowledge in regard 

 to extinct forms of animal and vegetable life. 



It may be interesting here to note briefly the use of general 

 terms in Palaeontology, as the gradual progress of the science 

 was indicated to some extent in its terminology. At first, and 

 for a long time, the name "fossil" was appropriately used for 

 objects dug from the earth, both minerals and organic remains. 

 The term " Oryctology," having essentially the same meaning, 

 was also used for this branch of study. For a long period, too, 

 the termination ties (Xi&oz, a stone) was applied to fossils to 

 distinguish them from the corresponding living forms ; as, for 

 instance, " Ostracites" used by Pliny. At a later date, the 

 general name "figured stones" (lapides figurati) was exten- 

 sively used; and less frecpiently, "Deluge stones" (lapides 

 tl iluviani). The term "organized fossils" was used to distin- 

 guish fossils from minerals, when the real difference became 

 known, although the name " HeUqmce" was sometimes em- 

 ployed. The term "petrifactions" (Petrifieata) was defined 

 by John Gesner in his work on fossils in 1758, and was 

 afterwards extensively used. Palaeontology is comparatively a 

 modem term, having come into use only within the last half 

 century. It was introduced about 1830, and soon was generally 

 adopted in France and England ; but in Germany it met with 

 less favor, though used to some extent. 



It would be interesting, too, did time permit, to trace the 

 various opinions and superstitions, held at different times, in 

 regard to some of the more common fossils, for example, the 

 Ammonite, or the Belenmite. Of their supposed celestial 

 origin ; of their use as medicine by the ancients, and in the 



