NOTES AND QUERIES. 
155 
in golden sands. These have long since been removed, whilst at the 
present price of labour, and with the extreme irregularity of distribu- 
tion that seems always to obtain where native metals exist, it is almost 
a hopeless chance to expect profit from mining or reducing establish- 
ments on a large scale. 
I am, &c., 
D. T. ANSTED. 
17 Manchester- street, 17th March, 1858. 
NOTES AND QTERIES. 
Determination of Fossils.— Inquirer (Harwich). — "In my di.stiict I find 
abundance of certain fossils, but not having any large library accessible to me, 
nor any learned friend to whom I could appeal, and as I cannot afford to expend 
much money in books — indeed, even those I possess, through my inexperience, 
do not afford me that certainty of determination which, as a foundation to 
further efforts, I so much desire — can you inform me of any ready and inexpensive 
means of learning their names ? " — Similar difficulties in naming fossils have 
been made known to us, as experienced by W. H. Y. (Sherborne) ; T. H. 
(Hinckley); A. C. C. (Forfar); Student (BIyth) ; J. P. (Stowmarket) ; W. E. 
(Chudleigh); R. F. (Tonbridge); W. E. (Chester); Rambler (Swindon); H. P. 
(Ledbury); I. C. C. (Saffron Walden) ; A CoUectcr (Felixstuw). We have received 
such very numerous inquiries of this nature, as to make us regard this difficulty, 
experienced by isolated students and beginners, with much interest. If 
duplicate specimens are sent free to the Editor, with numbered lists and 
localities, addressed to the care of Mr. Allen, 2 Catherine Street, Strand, such 
lists will be returned as soon as convenient, with the generic and specific names 
inserted. 
Provincial Correspondknts. — A correspondent at Worcester writes, that he 
thinks •' local facts should be especially looked to, and every effort made to 
obtain the latest observations, such as might be long in getting into the 
Proceedings of the Geological Society, &c. ; and to ensure this it is perhaps not 
enough that a number of names appear as contributors, but that in each county 
or district some one or two correspondents should regularly be engaged to 
forward to the Editor all now facts and observations connected with their 
districts." — We print this extract from our correspondent's letter, because 
it accords with our own views and wishes, and with those which other corres- 
pondents have communicated to us. We have already commenced taking steps 
to obtain such a combination of workers, which, more than anything else, will 
tend to keep up the standard of the Geologist as a work of merit, and to 
maintain its name in popular favour. If the working geologists and amateurs 
in the country will forward to us accounts of their discoveries, we will do 
our best at all times, in this great city, where the best can be done, to render their 
labours available for the progress of science. We should be pleased to have re- 
gular correspondents in every district ; but these, of course, must be voluntary 
helpers, as our resources would not permit such a staff of paid contributors. The 
correspondent at Worcester from whom we have quoted, recommends the report, 
in full, of the proceedings and excursions of all Field Clubs. There is very often 
more conviviality than science in these meetings, and we only consider it necessary 
to report that which has a scientific value. We should be obliged to the secre- 
taries of Field Clubs or Naturalists' Associations for notices of the proceedings, 
as we by no means under-rate the utility and practical value of such institutions. 
We have no intention nor wish to anticipate the published records of the 
Geological Society. Very little, we think, of importance escapes a ready 
P 2 
