LITERARY NOTICES. 



2 43 



stone in the arch reaching from the Allc- 

 ghanies to the Mississippi, and offered the 

 probable means of solving the perplexing 

 difficulties. 



According to Prof. Newberry, " the to- 

 pographical features may be described as 

 those of a plain slightly raised along a line 

 traversing it from northeast to southwest, 

 aud worn in the lapse of time by the drain- 

 ing streams into broad valleys, which im- 

 part a pleasing variety to the surface, af- 

 ford free and healthful drainage, and yet 

 leave unimpaired all the productiveness of 

 its original monotony ; in fact, exhibiting 

 perhaps the most perfect adaptation to the 

 wants of man which any surface affected 

 by such climatic influences can present." 

 The climate is one of extremes. The soil 

 over much more than half the State is of 

 foreign origin,- being transported by Drift 

 agencies frequently from a great distance. 

 The physical substructure is not simple like 

 the surface, but is diversified in different 

 places, both as to the number, character, 

 and thickness of the strata, and the position 

 which they occupy relative to each other 

 and to the horizon. The coal-measures 

 underlie the surface of the southeastern 

 third of the State, there being an aggregate 

 of about 12,000 square miles over which 

 the coal is unequally distributed. All the 

 coals are classed as bituminous, and are 

 divided into dry or furnace coals, coking- 

 coals, and cannel-coals, by far the greater 

 portion being of the coking variety. It is 

 proposed to discuss the distribution, quali- 

 ties, and uses of the coals in the volume on 

 economic geology. 



Manual of the Vertebrates op the North- 

 ern United States, including the Dis- 

 trict east of the Mississippi River and 

 north of North Carolina and Tennessee, 

 exclusive of Marine Species. By David 

 Starr Jordan, M. S., M. D., Professor of 

 Natural History in N. W. C. University, 

 and in Indiana State Medical College. 

 Chicago: Jansen, McClurg&Co. 12mo, 

 pp. 342. Price, $2.00. 



The object of this work is to facilitate 

 the classification of vertebrate animals by 

 means of artificial keys, such as have 

 been used in the study of botany. It has 

 been prepared for the use of collectors and 

 students who are not specialists, and has 

 been compressed within the narrowest lim- 



its in order to render it as cheap a hand- 

 book as possible. There are descriptions 

 of 817 species, representing 116 families. 

 It is the only work containing arranged de- 

 scriptions of the reptiles and fresh-water 

 fishes of this country. 



The Centennial Situation of Woman. A 

 Commencement Address at Mount Hol- 

 yoke Seminary, by Hon. Alexander 

 Bullock. Charles Hamilton, Worces- 

 ter, Massachusetts. Pp. 45. 



Governor Bullock made an eloquent 

 speech to the South Hadley ladies, but 

 whether he was quite equal to the occasion 

 may be a question depending upon the view 

 taken of the duties of such an opportunity. 

 Some may think that, in reviewing a hundred 

 years of progress in public or social affairs, 

 it is most suitable to take note of what has 

 been gained ; to dwell upon the triumphs, 

 the causes of congratulation, and give in- 

 dulgence to the more complacent feelings. 

 Others may regard it as the most fitting 

 time to be on our guard against this ever- 

 besetting tendency, the time to survey close- 

 ly and critically the position that has been 

 reached, to sift current claims, to look sharp- 

 ly after mistakes, and utilize an impressive 

 occasion to forecast the best course of action 

 for the future. Governor Bullock took the 

 most agreeable alternative, and discoursed 

 pleasantly, and with commendable gallantry, 

 of what woman has done to improve her 

 condition in various ways, and what civiliza- 

 tion has accomplished for her in further- 

 ance of the same end. He points out the 

 progress that woman has made toward the 

 independence of self-dependence through 

 the opening to her of modern industries ; 

 sketches the changes that have taken place 

 in the recognition of her civil rights ; and 

 dwells upon the great advance that has 

 been made in the work of female elevation, 

 and in opening to woman a wide opportuni- 

 ty in the vocation of teaching. He touches 

 lightly the vexed question of the intellect- 

 ual equality of the sexes, saying it has been 

 settled that there is no question at all 

 about it, and deftly quotes a woman Mrs. 

 Jameson as expressing the opinion that 

 " the intellect of woman bears the same rela- 

 tion to that of man as her physical organi- 

 zation ; it is inferior in power and differ- 

 ent in kind. In men the intellectual facul- 



