REVIEWS.

I. MONOGRAPHS PUBLISHED BY THE PALEONTOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY. February, 1869. Vol. XXII. (Issued for 1868).

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THE pleasant task again falls to our lot to announce the issue of the twenty-second volume of the publications of this Society. We do so with more than usual good-will on this occasion, because the issue of this volume wipes off all arrears due from the Society to its subscribers, and leaves them nearly twelve months in which to produce the volume due to its members for the current year's subscription.

The present fasciculus of Monographs is made up of:

1. Supplement to the Fossil Corals, Part II., No. 1. Corals from the White Chalk, the Upper Greensand, and the Red Chalk of Hunstanton, Plates 1.-IX., by P. Martin Duncan, M.B. Lond., F.R.S., F. and Sec. Geol. Soc. The nine plates which accompany this part are by De Wilde. The genera illustrated and described by Dr. Duncan are Caryophyllia (3 species); Onchotrochus (2 species); Cælosmilia (6 species); Parasmilia (3 species); Diblasus (1 species); Smilotrochus (4 species); Cyathopora (1 species); Favia (1 species); Thamnastraa (1 species); Cyclolites (1 species); Podoseris (2 species). 2. Fossil Crustacea-Order Merostomata, Part II. Pterygotus bilobus, by Henry Woodward, F.G.S., etc. This includes four varieties, viz., inornatus, crassus, perornatus, and acidens, illustrated with six plates by Hollick and Fielding. The specimens described in this part are all from Lesmahagow in Lanarkshire, and give us most complete details of structure, a rare occurrence in Silurian fossils.

3, Fossil Brachiopoda, Part VII., No. 3, of the Silurian Brachiopoda, by Thomas Davidson, F.R.S., Plates 23-37. Containing Rhynchonella (16 species); Orthis (52 species); Triplesia (3 species); Atrypa (2 species); Cyrtia, Eichwaldia, Porambonites, and Strophomena; illustrated in all by 390 figures!

It affords us great pleasure to know that Mr. Davidson is once more returned to England, and we hope his health and strength may be spared to finish this grand monograph, which is all his own.

4. The Liassic and Oolitic Belemnitida, Part IV., by Professor Phillips, M.A., LL.D., F.R.S., etc., Plates 21-27, with descriptions and illustrations of sixteen species. Geologists in the Oolitic and Liassic districts will rejoice to secure this work, for of all difficult things to deal with, in the way of determining their species, the guards of Belemnites are the most so. The Plates for this monograph continue to be drawn and printed in Paris. Those of B. ellipticus, B. Aalensis, and B. giganteus, are particularly effective and bold.

5. Professor Owen contributes No. III. to his Fossil Reptilia from the Kimmeridge Clay, in which he describes and figures: Palatal surface of skull and upper surface of lower jaw of Pliosaurus grandis, and part of cranium and lower jaw of Pliosaurus trochanterius, both

from the Kimmeridge Clay of Dorset, and obtained by J. C. Mansel, Esq., F.G.S., of Longthorns, Blandford. Also right-hand paddle of Pliosaurus Portlandicus, from the Oolite of the Isle of Portland.

6. The British Pleistocene Mammalia, by W. Boyd Dawkins, M.A., F.R.S., etc., and W. A. Sanford, F.G.S., Part III. This part contains plates and descriptions of limb-bones of Felis spelaa, and the jaw and occiput of skull of Felis lynx; this latter carnivore is new to England, and was obtained by Dr. Ransom from " Yew Tree Cave," a fissure in the Permian Limestone in Pleasley Vale, Derbyshire. Six plates illustrate this part, many of which are of double size.

Who would have believed, fifty years ago, that such a yearly volume could be issued by any Society for such a small subscription as a guinea annually?

Mr. Wiltshire, the indefatigable Honorary Secretary, promises that the 1869 volume shall appear in the autumn.

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II.-PHYSICAL ATLAS FOR SCHOOLS.

NEW and Enlarged Edition of the School Atlas of Physical Geography, illustrating in a series of Original Designs the Elementary Facts of Geology, Hydrography, Meteorology, and Natural History, has been prepared by Mr. Alexander Keith Johnston, Geographer in Ordinary to Her Majesty for Scotland, and Author of the Large Physical Atlas, the Royal Atlas, etc. (Published by Blackwood and Sons.)

Now that earnest efforts are being made to impart instruction in all the various branches of Natural Science in our public schools, we hail with pleasure the appearance of every work calculated to help the teacher in his task and to attract and interest the pupil: for without such aids it is but sorry dull work for both

In this little Atlas we have 20 plates, printed in colours (each measuring 12 inches by 9 inches), and divided into-(1) Illustrations of Chartography and Climatography, 1 plate; (2) Physical Geology, 4 plates; (3) Topography, 5 plates; (4) Hydrography, 4 plates; (5) Meteorology, 3 plates; (6) Natural History, 3 plates. These are accompanied by 42 pages of letter-press, giving a detailed description of the plates, which should be read over carefully and mastered by the teacher privately, that he may be conversant both with the maps and their explanation before using them in the school. Four of the plates are new and now appear for the first time; these are:-Plate 2. Illustrations of the Action of Rain and Streams, and Ice and Snow; Plate 3. Illustrations of Sea-Action and of Volcanic Action and Movements of the Earth's Crust; and Plates 13 and 14, which together form a Hydrographic Map of the British Isles, showing the River-basins, the Rainfall and the Elevation of the Land in Contours.

The author acknowledges the valuable aid he has received from Mr. Archibald Geikie, F.R.S., Director of the Geological Survey of Scotland, in the design and execution of the geological illustrations which form Plates 2 and 3; these will be found of great assistance

in explaining the way in which rain and streams, ice and snow, seaaction and volcanos, have tended to modify the surface of our earth, and will enable the scholar more readily to understand the cause which has produced any local alteration of a coast-line, a valley, or mountain, and thus impart a new zest to his studies and a fresh interest to each place he may visit at home or abroad.

The maps illustrating the distribution of plants, animals, and of the various races of mankind, will be sure to awaken an interest in the scholar, and the teacher will find the veriest dullard may be taught much that is useful by this method of visual education.

We hope this Atlas may find its way into every school; all Public Schools ought to possess a copy of Mr. Johnston's large Physical Atlas of Natural Phenomena in their library.

III-REPORTS OF THE RUGBY SCHOOL NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY FOR THE YEARS 1867 AND 1868 (pp. 58 and 60). Rugby: 1868 and 1869. Tait and Sons.

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DEMAND for the introduction of science into the modern system of education has increased so steadily during the last few years, and has received the approval of so many men of the highest eminence in every rank and profession, and especially of those who have made the theory and practice of education their study, that it is impossible to doubt the existence of a general, and even a national desire to facilitate the acquisition of some scientific knowledge by boys at our public and other schools."

Such are the words of the opening paragraph of the Report of the Committee appointed by the Council of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, to consider the best means for promoting scientific education in schools (read at Dundee, 1867).

Natural science is now taught at Harrow and Rugby, and we believe it has even invaded the classic shades of Eton.

The general plan at Rugby appears to be that new boys learn Botany their first year, Mechanics their second, Geology their third, and Chemistry their fourth. Out of a school of 450 to 500 boys (says the report already quoted) about 1-10th generally were in the natural science classes. The committee go on to say, "It is very desirable that boys should obtain some knowledge of Geology... Perhaps a larger proportion of boys are interested in the subject than in any other; but the subject presupposes more knowledge and experience than most boys possess, and their work has a tendency to become either superficial or undigested knowledge derived from books alone. The lectures include the easier part of Lyell's Principles, i.e. the causes of change now in operation on the earth; next, an account of the phenomena observable in the crust of the earth, stratification and its disturbances, and the construction of maps and sections; and, lastly, the history of the stratified rocks and of life on the earth. These lectures are illustrated by a fair geological collection, which has been much increased of late, and by a good collection of diagrams and views to illustrate geological phenomena” (p. 12).

To the question, Do the boys really care about Geology? the pages of the Reports now before us are the best possible answer. They have started a Natural History Society for themselves, and with the patronage and assistance of two or three of the masters (especially of Mr. J. M. Wilson, M.A., F.G.S.), they really bid fair to set a good example to many local Field-clubs and Natural History Societies of grown-up men, who, certainly, as far as years and experience go, have the advantage of them.

The Society was founded March 23rd, 1867. It held twelve meetings in that year, the average attendance at which was twentyfive and the largest number thirty-three. In 1868, sixteen meetings were held, the average attendance at which was thirty-nine, and the largest number sixty-two! exhibiting a most encouraging state of

progress.

The papers, necessarily, are somewhat elementary in character. E. Cleminshaw, in the first Report, gives a paper "On the Natural History of the Rugby Lias ;" and A. C. Bruce "On the accurate division of the local Lias at Rugby into Zones by their Fossils, more especially by their Ammonites." A list of local Lias Fossils is also given. (The term "Crustacean scales" is bad; "Fish-scales" would be correct, but "portions of Crustacea"-stating whether limbs or articuli of body-would be best). "Collecting Fossils," says the writer of one of these papers, E. Cleminshaw, "is undoubtedly the chief incitement to the study of geology;" and there can be little doubt that Rugby will turn out some good geologists, from the opportunity which is afforded to the boys to get good fossils from the Lias quarries. We are glad to see the President ever ready, as is his bounden duty, to correct bad deductions in geology, and we hope he will do the same in paleontology and natural history. The Siphuncle of the Ammonite and Nautilus does not "contain some liquid, which it has the power of secreting, and which liquid would make the shell heavier in proportion to its bulk, and so it would sink;" nor, “upon the withdrawal of the liquid would the shell become specificially lighter and would ascend." The Siphuncle (as the writer correctly states) has no connection with the interior of the chambers of the shell, and its contents, whether present or withdrawn, would be quite inadequate to disturb the equilibrium of the animal. We must seek another explanation for the siphuncle than that of a pneumatic apparatus.2

The 1868 report contains a paper "On the Volcanoes of the Lower Eifel Mountains;" "On the River Gravels," etc. etc. Mr. Wilson contributed papers during both years. The Natural History papers and notes exhibit a more than ordinary share of ability and promise, and they all denote work done lovingly and in right good earnest. 1 Report for 1867, p. 55.

2 We would recommend to Mr. Cleminshaw's study some notes "On the Form, Growth, and Construction of Shells," by the late Dr. S. P. Woodward; "Intellectual Observer," vol. x. p. 241, for Nov. 1866, and vol. xi. p. 18, for Feb. 1867 (especially pp. 28 and 29). A third article on the "Economic Uses of Shells and their Inhabitants" appeared in the April number of the same year (1867); and the "Student and Intellectual Observer" for June or July next will probably contain some notes specially on the shells of the Cephalopoda.-EDIT.

REPORTS AND PROCEEDINGS.

GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.-I. March 10th, 1869.-Papers read: 1. “On the Origin of the Northampton Sand." By John W. Judd, Esq., F.G.S., of the Geological Survey of England.

This paper was an attempt to base on the study of a rock, both in in the field and the laboratory, a complete and consistent theory of the conditions of its original deposition, and of the sequence and causes of its various metamorphoses.

The Northampton Sand was described as consisting of various strata, usually of an arenaceous character, which frequently pass, both vertically and horizontally, into a ferruginous rock, the wellknown Northamptonshire ore.

The different features presented by the formation in various localities were then indicated; and the lithological, microscopical and chemical characters of its constituent rocks described at length. These characters were shown to point to the conclusion that the beds were accumulated in a delta of one or more great rivers.

Arguments were then adduced in opposition to the theory of the formation of ironstones by direct deposition, and in favour of the hypothesis that the Northamptonshire ore consisted of beds of sand altered by the percolation through them of water containing carbonate of iron.

The cause of the re-distribution of the iron in the rock was then discussed, and, in opposition to the views of Mr. Maw, who has referred the phenomena in question to "segregation," they were all shown to be easily capable of explanation on well-known chemical principles, and to be due to the action of atmospheric water finding access to the rock by its joints and fissures.

The paper concluded with a sketch of what was inferred to be the history of the rock from its accumulation to the present time, and some remarks on the varied and important effects of water when acting under different conditions on rocks.

DISCUSSION.-Mr. Maw agreed on the whole with the author as to the chemical changes which had taken place in these beds. He had little doubt of the carbonate of iron having replaced carbonate of lime, as had been originally suggested by Mr. Sorby, and of there having at one time been a much larger proportion of protoxide in the beds. He did not, however, think that the banded arrangement of the protoxide of iron could be accounted for on any simple chemical theory. He had found by analysis that the proportion of iron in the dark and light areas of variegated rocks bore no direct proportion to each other. In some cases the whole of the iron in the lighter portions had been exhausted. The excess of phosphoric acid in some patches could, he conceived, be only accounted for by segregational action. The thickness also of the environing band was always proportional to the area enclosed, and not by any means uniform round blocks of different sizes. It therefore seemed to be due to segregation from the included mass from which a certain portion of the iron had been withdrawn.

Mr D. Forbes objected to the name of Northampton Sands as applied to rocks so slightly arenaceous. He thought the phosphate of iron present might be principally due to the organic remains in the original limestone, which had been replaced by the carbonate of iron. He remarked that in many of the blue ironstones there was no