Geology and Paleontology. 847 
but only questions of names. Within the field of names it should 
only comprehend what Stahl and the phlogistonists understand 
by them. it should therefore not attempt the classification of 
_ the elements, nor the classification of compounds made by com- 
_ bining elements. It should discuss no analysis unless the data 
be compiled from existing authorities. It should not regulate 
- the eee eure of somatology, for that belongs to physics and 
a cs; it should not regulate the nomenclature of reactions, 
5 for that belongs to magic,—in fact, it should not meddle with 
Mames at all, for that is the domain of philology :’—would w 
Sar ave had a science of chemistry at all, or would papim 
d his colleagues have persisted in their. reckless course of 
Electing and devising ? 
“ae connection the words of the great Berzelius are very. 
č; 
sagat Te a systematic nomenclature i is m sary, but i e none more than 
: Salva: ie rg ae which reigned prior to the happy id m of Guyto one de 
the fruit i proof omenclature which che naa egg mploy ne 1780 is 
Bed 3 sh heat ed abe directed by Lavoisier, Berthollet, and Fourcroy. 
3 it vant resents hat whoever learn gniz 
a its true name withou Snowing it beforehand, so that it is unnecessary to 
ete: th a large number of different terms. e, sci- 
i PRF- W e Furthermor 
the nomenclature is in itself the expression of a co mplete ‘theory, so that if, on 
he theory furnish the name, on the other the name indicates the 
ich wi 
“yment of purely technical terms, that are always preserved without ‘tiers 
as these changes are ordin narily the results of progress in the direction of 
ons, the change of no menclature, far from injuring, is, on the contra 
eans for facilitating the march of ideas. /n , neral, , nothing vich con- 
bot ing rd part of a science statio is advantageous 
ance equally in proportion to the multiplicatio n of ditore aod 
(Berzelius, Treatise e on Chemistry,” vol. i., Introduction, 1829.) 
oči tolerably sure that if Mr. Gilbert expects the International 
debates, f Geologists to eschew all questions of science in its 
grams and devote itself to the employment of playing at logo- 
Ey with old data, he will be disappointed.— 
n the Homo ologies of Edestus.'—The genus Edestus was 
” Professor Leidy to comprise certain singular fossils 
Coal-measures of the West, about which various theo- 
been held. The one generally received is that they 
yng used as weapons of defence or offence. About = ž 
a half ago Dr. H. Woodward, of London, suggested 
might be pe Ee 
ne Paper read before the Aes Association for the Advancement z ; 
; €, August 15; 1887. ee 
