362 
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 Schelhng : — 
" preachiag dreams 
Like hieropliants before a gapiug 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 AVamba 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 his 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 Forbes. But the harmless waggery and real Avit, which 
flowyig from the genial pen and facile pencil of one who had done 
such good service, might be tolerated. jS'o 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 eff"ort becomes the badge of mental weak- 
ness, and diminishes into reprehensible vulgarity. In Forbes'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 the man we permitted to take 
such licences in his scientific works ; but /^/s jokes were added to his 
chapters, and he never made a joke of his real, good, earnest work. 
