1813.] upon Werner* s Mmeralogical Method. 24S 



Let us now consider the mineral specks a little inore closely, 

 that we may be able to determine whether there be any founda- 

 tion for Chenevix's assertion that WeiDer follows no principle 

 whatever, and that the principle of Haiiy alone is precise and 

 scientific. Werner's definition of a species is this : " All 

 minerals composed of the same constituents combined in the 

 same proportion belong to the same species, while minerals 

 composed of different constituents belong to distinct species.'* 

 Haiiy's definition of species is this : *^ Minerals composed of the 

 same constituents, and having integrant molecules of the same 

 form, belong to the same species." 1 appeal to Mr. Chenevix 

 himself which of these tvvo definitions is most scientific, 

 Werner^s species depend alone upon the constitution of minerals^ 

 which is surely the essential circumstance : for minerals are not 

 organised beings, like animals and plants, capable of being 

 classed according to the form of their organs respectively. The 

 circumstance in minerals, which is the most interesting to us, 

 and upon which, as far as we have any means of judging, their 

 properties must depend, is their composition. Upon it, there- 

 fore, it seems most proper that their division into species should 



book in support of his assertion. The passage in question, had it been fairlif 

 quoted, would hare proved directly the reverse. To convince the reader of 

 this, 1 shall insert here the whole paragraph, translated as literally as possibl© 

 from the original German. The paragraph is needlessly diffuse, which gives it 

 a clumsy appearance, but the meaning is sntficiently obvious. 



" The best mode of exhibiting the mutual relativons of the external characters 

 is to reduce them into a regular system ; that is, to divide them into genera and 

 species, and then to arrange them according to their natural succession. Genera 

 of external characters, or generic characters, are those which shov/ what is to 

 be determined in a mineral ; such are colour, coherence of the particles, 

 weight, taste, &c. Thus, for example, when I say copper pyrites has a 

 colour, I have as yet determined nothing. I have only shown what is to foe 

 determined. These generic characters are again general and particular; thp 

 ^eneraZ are those which show what is to be determined in all minerals^ the 

 particular, what is to be determined in a part of fossils. The above cited 

 example illustrates the general character,- as ^oliditi/y external shape, lustre^ 

 &c. do the particular, as they occur only in solid minerals. The species of 

 external characters, or specific characters, are those which determine what we 

 have to say of a mineral in regard to a generic character. As for example, . 

 when I say of copper pyrites, in regard to colour, it is yelluw^ or in regard 

 to hardness, that it is semihard — these specific characters atford us a conception 

 of the exterior of the fossil, or the description of its exterior; but the generic 

 characters serve only to reduce the specific characters in the system under 

 genera. Lastly, the varieties are those characters by which we determine with 

 accuracy what is to be observed in a mineral in regard to a specific character. 

 As for example, when I say of copper pyrites that it is gold yellow, or of the 

 diamond in respect to hardness tijat it is uncommonly hard. As these specific 

 characters vary very much, and as many minerals are often distinguished by 

 one variety, it is necessary to determine, with as much accuracy as possible, id 

 regard to one or other of the common characters, not only by the specific 

 characters, but also by the varieties." Werner''s von den ausserlichen KennseU'' 

 dien der Fossilien, p. 65. , A writer must i)e greatly at a loss for objects of 

 accusation, when he has recourse to misqaotations and false coostractions to 

 estublish his positions. 



