2 
GEOLOGY OF THE FOURTH DISTRICT. 
The great object of the survey, as originally contemplated, was to lay before the people of 
the State as much practical or available information as possible, in regard to the rocks, mine¬ 
rals and soils. These, then, were the prominent points to be kept in view. In attempting to 
do this, the manner and matter are not always such as would have been chosen, had the 
report been a communication to a body of scientific men. On the other hand, it is impossible 
to avoid the use of terms, some of which are strictly technical, and others not familiar to 
every reader. Still many of these terms are being introduced into our English dictionaries, 
and will soon be considered a part of the language. Those which are not thus used, are 
readily found and clearly defined in the Glossary ; and as every term employed is more ex¬ 
pressive or significant of the idea, than words of ordinary language, it is presumed that the 
knowledge of such, and their application, will fully repay every one the trouble of adding 
them to his vocabulary. 
Were it possible to use the familiar language of conversation so as to give names to all the 
objects, and to describe all the phenomena of nature, it would perhaps be desirable to do so ; 
but as our knowledge of nature increases, our vocabulary becomes deficient, and we are com¬ 
pelled to resort to other languages for terms expressive of the object or idea. These at length, 
and by frequent repetition, become a part of our own tongue ; and in time, by familiar use, 
their origin is forgotten. Thus has it been with all words and phrases introduced from other 
languages. 
Now inasmuch as Natural History, in all its departments, must become a popular study, 
it is evident, either that these terms must be acquired, or others substituted ; and it will 
require far more labor to find familiar terms expressing the same thing, than to learn those 
already applied. There is also a necessity for a universal language ; for nature is universal, 
and every where the same. Whatever mode, therefore, will render a knowledge of nature 
of more easy acquisition to the greater number, it is the duty, as it should be the pleasure, 
of every lover of nature to adopt. 
In all cases, in this report, where the name of a fossil is rendered more familiar by being 
translated, it will be done ; but in many instances, the name thus translated would be inap¬ 
plicable or inconvenient. Such instances sometimes occur where fossils have been named 
from theoretical considerations, which have afterwards been overturned by the acquisition of 
new facts. An example may be cited in the name primigeneus or first-created, which we 
cannot with propriety affirm of any fossil at the present time; as it may happen that one of 
the same genus will be found in an older rock. Names expressing any quality in a superla¬ 
tive degree are likewise objectionable, as has often been found; for so long as any remain 
unknown, we cannot with propriety use the superlative signification, as it may be superseded 
by the same quality in a greater degree in another individual. 
Numerous objections, in popular regard, may doubtless be made to our present nomencla¬ 
ture, but it is far easier to make objections than to propose a more acceptable substitute, and 
a report like the present is not the place for reformations in science. Reform should be made 
by those best acquainted with the subject; and in these pursuits, such men are usually too 
