10 
Records of the Geological Survey of India. 
[VOL. VII. 
series describing tbe jurassic fauna of Kacli by Dr. Waagen. It contains the Belemni- 
tid:e and Nautilidse, and was issued in June, being the number in advance for the first 
quarter of 1874. There is a quantity of manuscript and of drawings in an advanced state 
of preparation, and if either Dr. Waagen or Dr. Stoliczka is able to return, even late in 
the year, the publication can be readily brought up to date. 
Maps. —The first of the systematic publication of our maps on the scale of one inch 
to the mile, as recently sanctioned, was made this year by the issue of the twelve sheets of 
the district Dumoh; several sheets of the adjoining region are ready to send to press. 
I cannot but express my decided opinion that the publication of the greater part of our work 
on this scale is premature and wasteful, neither the maps nor the geology being worth it. 
I say this advisedly, and because I am quite prepared to defend the excellence of the maps 
to the degree of accuracy that can be expected in them. We have for the most part to deal 
with rocky and hilly ground, and tracts of this description generally come under the Topo¬ 
graphical system of survey. It would altogether defeat the objects of this mode of survey, 
which are expedition and moderate cost, if it were to attempt the same accuracy of detail that 
is expected from the method of the Revenue Survey. For all ordinary purposes of geogra¬ 
phy, and for all rough practical purposes, as well as general geological structure, these maps 
are all that need be required. But close geological work is as severe a test as a map can be 
put to; and I have often had to give up the attempt to make the geological features agree 
accurately with the lines of these maps. I can speak even more positively of the geological 
objection. Take these very maps of Dumoh; they only represent the boundaries of the 
overlying trap, the divisions of the Vindhyan seiies (generally several hundred feet in 
thickness), and the outcrops of the inter and intra-trappeans, all in the simplest relation of 
horizontal superposition. There is no single feature of scientific interest or of practical 
utility calling for any minuteness of delineation, and that cannot bo adequately indicated on 
the quarter-inch scale. It is certainly necessary that the field work should be executed on 
the one-inch scale if only to ensure all possible accuracy on the smaller map; but once this 
reduction has been carefully made, and with an explanatory text, it would be of small 
consequence if the field-maps were destroyed. The most complete geological map possible 
would be of no use in the hands of one who scarcely knows one rock from another; and 
for one who does, the quarter-inch maps will be sufficient guide over nine-tenths of the 
geological work likely to be done in India for many a year to come. 
While on the subject of large scale maps, I would urge the importance of having really 
adequate working maps of certain tracts where the utmost amount of accuracy and of geologi¬ 
cal detail is called for. Such a map is now greatly needed on the scale of four or six inches 
to the mile for the Raniganj coal-field, where nfining enterprise is so active. 
Of the Atlas of India maps, quarter sheet 77 S. W. was published during the year; 
and several of the adjoining sheets are ready for the engravers. The printing of these has 
not been pressed on account of some uncertainty as to corrections, which could not bo settled 
in the absence of Mr. King. This is of less consequence, as a skeleton map of most of the 
area was issued with the descriptive memoir published last year. As these Atlas sheets are 
to be our final and general form of publication, it is of great importance to decide upon a 
permanent scale of colours, so as to have the series uniform; and it is very difficult to do 
this safely while the scale of formations itself is under discussion. Once this difficulty is 
surmounted, we shall be in a position to publish a good number of these quarter sheets. 
Library. The library has received the addition of 614 volumes or parts of volumes 
during the year, of which number 477 were presented, and 137 purchased. This number 
would have been much larger, save for the unfortunate miscarriage of a large consignment 
ol books from Berlin. It is hoped that the case has only gone astray and will be recovered. 
