PREFACE. 



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Eew people know the cost, time, toil, trouble, and determination 

 necessary to establish a magazine. This cost, toil, and trouble have 

 been borne by me, and that too through a period of my life when 

 of all others I was least able to sustain it. Five volumes com- 

 pleted, however, show what determination, perseverance, and tena- 

 city have accomplished, and to what result we have attained. It 

 is true our price is higher, but may we not fairly ask, Is not our 

 quality better ? Special scientific periodicals cannot be increased in 

 circulation like ordinary periodicals by advertisements. There are 

 but so many geologists, and advertisements do not increase their 

 number. They may increase the casual sale, but not the permanent 

 purchasers ; and commercially ' The Qeologist ' must be maintained 

 remunerative to ensure its permanency. I have two reasons in re- 

 ferring to this topic at the present time,— ^rst, to enjoy the grati- 

 fication I always look forward to at this congenial season of sincerely 

 thanking my many good friends ; and secondly, that it may be 

 distinctly known that I take the warmest interest in the profitable 

 continuance of this Magazine ; the increased success of which will 

 yield a corresponding benefit to myself as well as to the publisher. 



Not the least gratifying fact is the good opinion held of this 

 Magazine abroad. Erom America, Erance, Switzerland, Austria, 



