332 



THE GEOLOGIST. 



cursory inspection will prove. The hitherto scarcely defin- 

 able variation from growth is here traced out with exceed- 

 ing minuteness ; so much so^ that it v/ill easily be seen how 

 many authors may have committed the errors to which we 

 have alluded, in overlooking the modifications of angular out- 

 line and demarcation assumed by the same species at differ- 

 ent stages of growth. Independent of this peculiarity, the 

 neatness of the whole arrangement is worthy of all commen- 

 dation. 



But it is to the former, more especially^ that we wish to 

 direct the attention of the student, whose course of study 

 would be very much benefitted by an inspection of the various 

 genera in their present arrangement ; and this privilege he 

 can obtain without difficulty, by an order from any fellow of 

 the society. And we point out the admirable arrangement 

 the Society has carried out, hoping to find their museum 

 much more frequented, ere long, than it is now, and the sci- 

 ence of geology advanced by the addition of well-instructed 

 labourers in the path of practical research. 



It is owing to the facilities of comparison, which an uni- 

 versal system of technical appellations has provided, that the 

 fossil shells, so generally found, have been successfully clas- 

 sified ; and when each new aspirant to fame is well acquaint- 

 ed with all that has been discovered and proved previous to 

 the time of his proficiency, then will he be enabled to lend 

 important aid to the furtherance of science. That such is 

 the only true method, we need but to refer to the writings 

 of Cuvier — the most elaborate observer of minute differ- 

 ences and distinctions — and to the rough sketch of geology 

 to be found in Ray's w^orks, now a century and a half pub- 

 lished, in which will be found, as the author before alluded 

 to has said, a very plausible geological theory of the globe, 

 for the details of the foundation of which he had no previous 



