MONTHLY NOTICE. 



331 



MONTHI.Y MOTICE. 



November 1st. 1842. 



We feel compelled, as it were, to correct this montli a 

 very popular error amongst scientific aspirants — that as much 

 may be learnt from the careful study of an elaborate and ap- 

 proved work, as from a comparison of the very subjects there 

 treated of, which exploration has succeeded in raising from 

 tSie treasuries of nature, and which those who have already 

 studied with success, have arranged for the express purpose 

 of light 3ning the burden and relieving the tedium of weari- 

 some detail. Now, such a subject is of the utmost import- 

 ance to the student of Geology ; his area of study is so com- 

 prehensive, that simplification becomes a matter of necessity ; 

 and as all men of sense acknowledge the advantage which 

 research gains by the addition of every fresh record, so it is 

 that a museum containing these discoveries, becomes more 

 and more necessary in proportion as the extent of the sub- 

 ject is increased. It is from an imperfect knowledge of the 

 forms assumed by several shells, for instance, in the various 

 stages of their growth, that many an otherwise clever natu- 

 ralist, has added unnecessary difficulties to the labours of his 

 successors, by describing, figuring, and naming, imperfect, or 

 as yet incompletely developed shells, as new species. 



We would, therefore, recommend to all who desire to make 

 themselves acquainted with so important a department of 

 geology as fossil conchology, a visit to the Museum of the 

 Geological Society of London, which for perfectness of ar- 

 rangement, and adaptation to utility, is, perhaps, unequalled 

 by that of any public or private museum elsewhere. The 

 ,care which Mr. Lonsdale has devoted to the examination of 

 the several specimens must have been great, as the most 



VOL. I. — ^NO. XI. 2 A 



