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There is but one natural, practical and interesting way of 

 learning the science of the earth — Geology — and that is by 

 studying the earth itself. Experience has shown again and again 

 that students who have gone through the ordinary text-book 

 training in geology retain for a time some generalized ideas re- 

 lating to the science, but of real geology they know little. Nor 

 is it in any way a fault of theirs. 



This pamphlet is intended to encourage students to teach 

 themselves from rocks and fossils obtained near their respective 

 homes. It will not take the place of the text-book, but will 

 serve to introduce or supplement the same, and give its teachings 

 more interest, more meaning. Noteworthy localities in the vicin- 

 ity of each of the larger high schools and other institutions of 

 learning are often referred to, thus intensifying the interest the 

 learner may have in the science, by the thought always pleasant, 

 of knowing about things near at home. 



A work of this kind can, however, be of but local applica- 

 tion; for were references made to the geology about every insti- 

 tution of learning in every state of the Union the size of the 

 work and its consequent cost would defeat the very purpose for 

 which it was written. As stated on the title page, this is applic- 

 able to the Upper Devonian (Portage and Chemung) rocks of 

 southern New York. 



Certain it is that much that is given on the following pages 

 — and a great deal more — has already been published in the vol- 

 uminous state reports on the geology and paleontology of New 

 York, as well as in the Journals and Proceedings of scientific so- 

 cieties. But the average teacher and pupil have neither time nor 

 inclination to use these learned tomes, even though the school 

 library may possess them; they need something more convenient 

 and better adapted to their use. 



