862 



THE GEOLOGIST. 



applied in sheets by paste, now line the insides of our travelling trunks. 

 But to those who regard Geology and Zoology, and their kindred 

 sciences, as the pillars of physical truth, who regard scientific exacti- 

 tude as an object of reverence, and who inculcate scientific methods 

 of thought as the most noble, the most worthy occupation of man's 

 mind, the perusal of these papers will afford a sentiment of dis- 

 gust similar to that which the pious Bunsen felt when criticizing the 

 predecessors of Schelling : — 



" preaching dreams 



Like hieropliants before a gaping mob." 



What good can it be, when the bulk of our masses are in ignorance 

 respecting the most elementary facts of geology, to waste the space 

 of a popular and excellent periodical by alluding to the fact that some 

 obsolete writer has described the " ammonite as a silly insect with 

 black spots" ? Far better it would be for a sincere biologist, — not 

 one who merely picks out the "pretty bits" of science, — to explain 

 the structure of an ammonite, to define the various subgenera and the 

 wonderful modifications of form which ammonites exhibit, or to 

 attempt to do the useful work of unravelling the obscure synonymy 

 of the genus. To neglect the grave problems of science merely to 

 tell us that a chrysalis looks like a " buttoned-up cabman upside 

 down," or like something else right side up, is indeed to reverse the 

 practice of Wamba the Witless in Scott's novel, who, although 

 passing his time of peace and idleness in jesting and folly, could 

 wield a powerful sword when the danger of ]iis master was immi- 

 nent. 



One only of our modern writers seems to have had the facility of 

 combining witticism and caricature with the more serious work. This 

 was Edward Eorbes. But the harmless waggery and real wit, which 

 flowing from the genial pen and facile pencil of one who had done 

 such good service, might be tolerated. No other wit, either of his 

 own day, before his time, or since, could dare to do the same ; or if 

 he dared, would only make a bitter failure of his rashness. In the 

 hands of, puny men such efibrt becomes the badge of mental weak- 

 ness, and diminishes into reprehensible vulgarity. In Eorbes's inimi- 

 table sketches, wit, humour, and point tell out in every stroke ; but 

 it was only the genius of the artist-wit that saved the savant from 

 condemnation for the practice. It was tlie man we permitted to take 

 such licences in his scientific works ; but Ziz's jokes were added to his 

 chapters, and he never made a joke of his real, good, earnest work. 



