ON THE external characters OP f minerals. ILxternai. characters arc those which we discover by means of our senses, in the aggregation of minerals. They are divided into generic and specific: the generic are certain properties of minerals used as characters, without any reference to their differences, as colour, lustre, weight, &c. The differences among these properties form the sped! fic characters, as adamantine lustre, glassy or vitreous lustre, &c - The generic characters are divided into general and Particular: under the first is comprehended those that oc cur in all minerals; under the second, those which occur °nly in particular classes of minerals. The particular gene ric external characters are arranged according as they strike * e senses, and those are placed first which are observable y the eye, not only because they first engage our attention °n examining a mineral, but because they are the most nu merous and important. To colour follows those observed ny touch, smell, and taste, A