PREFACE. 
Few 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 Geologist ' must be maintained 
remunerative to ensure its permanency. I have two reasons in re- 
ferring to this topic at the present time,— ^r*^, 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. From America, France, Switzerland, Austria, 
