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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
first edition. To most folk mineralogy is an exceedingly dry and unin- 
teresting pursuit ; and certainly, if one may be permitted to form the 
opinion, it seems that those who calumniate the science have good reason 
to do so, although they themselves are to blame and not mineralogy. How 
often we meet with persons styling themselves mineralogists, who really 
know just as much about the philosophy of their subject as though they 
were unable to distinguish a piece of quartz from a crystal of carbonate of 
lime ! Such individuals will talk about Chiastolite and Andalusite , and 
yet will be unable to explain the simplest phenomenon in crystallography, 
or to say what chemical relation one mineral holds to another. Is it, then, 
strange, that those ignorant of the science should not be much prepossessed 
in its favour, when their only conceptions as to its nature are derived from 
these quasi-mineralogists? Certainly not. We trust that Mr. Dana’s 
book will generate a better spirit, by developing a desire to become ac- 
quainted with the principles of the science. This Manual of Mineralogy 
is the most diffuse we have yet become acquainted with, and is well calcu- 
lated to promulgate philosophic ideas. The subjects of crystals, and the 
laws which control their formation and modification, are explicitly 
enlarged upon ; and the physical properties of minerals, as given by the 
author, will be found of great service to the practical mineral-hunter. 
The descriptions of the various minerals are good, but the localities cited 
being nearly all American, the student will occasionally find himself at a 
disadvantage. The analytical key to the discovery of any mineral’s name 
is based, we think, on rather unimportant characters, but to one of good 
powers of manipulation must prove very valuable. We heartily recom- 
mend the volume. 
