3S 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[Feb. 1, 1870. 



POPULAR GEOLOGY* 



ALTHOUGH there is no "royal road to science," 

 and a sound naturalist is not born of dressing- 

 gown and slippers, but of bard knocks and long 

 walks, yet mucb help is afforded even to abstruse 

 science by tbe "popular guides" of the present 

 generation. One of tbe first steps towards in- 

 creasing tbe number of students in a particular 

 science seems to be to obtain an audience, to secure 

 interest in the study from some who have never 

 given to it the slightest attention heretofore. If 

 nothing else could be predicated of books on popular 

 science— if they only stir up a desire in the minds of 

 a few individuals to obtain more light, and stimu- 

 late them to a little exertion to obtain it, they will 

 have accomplished good work. It is a very poor 

 "guide" which does not succeed even beyond this, by 

 laying a good foundation, and sketching out the de- 

 sign of the superstructure to be reared thereon. Just 

 those branches of science to which there is no popular 

 introduction or portable handbook, are behind all 

 the rest in the number of students, in tbe interest 

 which they occasion, and in tbe deplorable ignorance 

 of even educated men of tbe most elementary of 

 its facts. We hail with interest every faithful effort 

 to introduce science to the outside world, and can- 

 vass for followers, and we welcome every zealous 

 worker, who by bis influence promises to obtain 

 recruits. Everybody who met with the British 

 Association in Norwich (1868) will remember with 

 pleasure tbe honorary secretary of the local Geolo- 

 gical Society. Having devoted himself, in all the 

 enthusiasm of youth, to this " hobby " of bis, be 

 rides it all over the county, picking up his geolo- 

 gical crumbs, and the result is that be has become 

 — just what be deserves to be — quite an authority 

 on Norfolk geology. 



The books before us are not all "just published "; 

 the " Geological Essays," especially, date some four 

 or five years ago ; but they are all characterized by 

 those genial features which are by no means patent 

 to books on popular science. Eor instance, the 

 author is practically well up in bis subject by ex- 

 perience gained in the field. Some people have 

 compiled books at their own fireside, by 'picking 

 other men's brains, and "popular" books too; but 

 tbey have their reward. Mr. Taylor writes also in 

 a plain and agreeable manner. He says what he 

 has to say just as if he meant to have it understood ; 

 and, moreover, he is so poetical at times, so attrac- 



* *' Geological Essays and Sketch of the Geology of Man- 

 chester and the Neighbourhood." By John E. Taylor. Lon- 

 don: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. 



"Lithographs, a Series of Four Lectures on Geology, 

 delivered before the Norwich Geological Society." By John 

 E. Taylor, Hon. Sec. London : Hamilton, Adams, & Co. 



"On Certain Phenomena in the Drift near Norwich." By 

 Jolm E. Taylor. Reprinted from the Geological Magazine. 



tive, and so suggestive, that step by step the reader 

 is compelled to follow him, whether be will or no, 

 on, on, and on to tbe end of the volume. It is 

 sometimes objected to men of science, that their 

 dry-as-dust notions will not accord with any know- 

 ledge or appreciation of polite literature. Here is 

 plenty of evidence to the contrary, in quotations from 

 the poets, Shakespeare down to Tennyson, and in 

 allusion to writings sacred and profane, sufficient to 

 prove that our author has read much, remembered 

 well, and is, consequently, a most agreeable com- 

 panion. Those who complain of the scepticism of 

 modern science— especially geology — should read 

 Mr. Taylor's books and then — be silent. 



RIBS OF THE DUN COW. 



T AGREE with your correspondent " G. B." that 

 -*- it would be interesting to ascertain tbe number 

 of these ribs at present exhibited. A few days ago I 

 paid a visit to that interesting spot which was once 

 the proud capital and strong citadel of Wales. I allude 

 to Caerleon, at present a small insignificant village, 

 three miles from Newport, but still mucb frequented 

 by those who feel an interest in the ancient bistory 

 of their fatherland ; for this pretty spot is encircled 

 by many ballowed associations, and is connected 

 more deeply than [any other town in Wales with 

 the history of King Arthur, whom none of us would 

 like to regard as a fabulous personage. 



Caerleon boasts a museum, containing a very 

 valuable collection of Roman and old British rebcs ; 

 and here also is to be seen a rib of tbe dun cow, 

 this specimen having lain in a neighbouring church 

 for very many years, and had been recently removed 

 to the museum. One fact should be noted in tbe 

 conformation of the rib, viz., its great breadth, 

 measuring from margin to margin full six inches. 

 But the great peculiarity in the structure of this 

 rib evidently is tbe anatomical relations of its 

 margins, whicb must be termed external and inter- 

 nal, the fat of the rib being placed transversely to 

 the body of the animal. Trusting througb the 

 medium of your paper more light may be thrown 

 on the subject, I wisb to remark, in conclusion, that 

 it may be a significant fact in attempting to unravel 

 this mystery, that in the four places already named 

 as possessing one of these curiosities, viz., Chester- 

 field, Warwick, Bristol, and Caerleon, they were all 

 deposited in a church. 



Abthub. Llewellyn. 



The following extract respecting the "dun cow" 

 is taken from a book called " Facts," by Sir Richard 

 Phillips, published in 1810 :— 



"The wild ox, formerly dangerous in British 

 woods, is now only found in the fossil state in 

 recent formations, or in strata with elephants' bones, 

 or in three or four parks as curiosities. It is white, 



