Geological Survey of Great Britain. 107 



reference merely to the conventional outlines of counties. 

 The workman must follow his lines wherever they lead him ; 

 and if brought to a stand for want of maps, till the want is 

 supplied, it may he that he cannot properly apprehend and 

 express their import. 



The unavoidable delay that has occurred in commencing 

 this part of the survey, is in a measure an advantage to Scot- 

 land, for the topographical maps now finished are not only 

 wonderful specimens of accuracy and beauty, but being on a 

 scale of 6 inches to a mile, they will afford the geologist every 

 facility for laying down all needful details, a matter of no 

 small value in a country, the coal fields of which are so im- 

 portant. Valuable as are the results that have been obtained 

 in England, those interested in its coal fields constantly feel 

 the want of a map larger than the 1-inch scale that alone 

 exists for the central and western counties. Indeed in all 

 matters requiring great detail, such, for instance, as the delinea- 

 tion of numerous faults and coal crops, it is manifestly too 

 small, and in this respect, Scotland will have a great advantage, 

 especially if those whose duty it is to decide on the scale of the 

 Ordnance Maps, for future publication, do not fall into the 

 opposite extreme, and decide upon the engraving of maps too 

 large for the use of geologists who, in the course of a day's work, 

 often require to carry with them maps representing an area of 

 perhaps 100 square miles. 



Professor Ramsay personally commenced operations in East 

 Lothian towards the close of the year just terminated. It is 

 impossible to prosecute geological investigations in the field 

 with much effect through the inclement months of winter, but 

 it is anticipated, that during the coming summer, the work will 

 be carried on as vigorously as the means at the disposal of the 

 survey will allow. In investigations of this sort, large results 

 are not to be immediately looked for. They are the work of 

 time ; but looking to what has been done and is now doing in 

 England, we confidently expect that at no distant period they 

 will be of a kind worthily to satisfy the expectations of the 

 public. 



