The Training of a Geologist. — Branner. 147 
second anal piece and are but little smaller than that plate, 
being as long as wide and all hexagonal. 
Arm openings 18 in number and directed upward, 
The calyx meets the vault in a sharp rim. Vault or dome 
but slightly convex, with plates strongly nodose, almost spi- 
niferous; base of anal tube strong; column and arms un- 
known ; width of body nearly one inch ; depth little more than 
half an inch. 
The peculiar depressed shape of the body of this crinoid, 
its smooth calyx and tuberculate vault plates, sharp rim at 
the arm bases and the simple excavation for the column, read- 
ily distinguish it from any other already noticed Burlington 
Batocrinus. 
Described from two perfect bodies, found at the very base of 
the Lower Burlington limestone, at Louisiana, Mo. 
The specific name is given in honor of Prof. Samuel Calvin 
of the Iowa State University. 
THE TRAINING OF A GEOLOGIST. * 
By John C. Branner, Ph. D. 
The fitting of a young man for his work in life is worthy of 
our serious study and consideration, and while much that I 
may say is equally applicable to men in any calling, I can only 
undertake to speak of some of the demands that the times are 
placing upon geologists. 
It is to be expected, of course, that there are plenty of per- 
sons of intelligence in the world who have no conception what- 
ever of a geologist's duties, those who imagine that geology as a 
profession can be picked up just as the duties of certain civil 
offices, or of clerical positions, may be readily learned and 
performed by any man of ordinary intelligence. Among the 
applications I have received for employment one man gave as 
a reason why he should be employed that he was a consistent 
member of the Presbyterian church ; another that he was a 
graduate of a famous military school; another was interested 
in geology and had read many books upon the subject, among 
which he cited some of the vaporings of Ignatius Donnelly ; 
still another used to be acquainted with professor Winchell, 
and another was in poor health and thought field work would 
* Presidential address before the Indiana Academy of Sciences, 
Indianapolis, Dec, 30th, 1889. 
