166 Bibliographical Notices. 



BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 



Elementary Course of Geology^ Mineralogy, and Physical Geo- 

 graphy, By Prof. D. T. Ansted, M.A., F R.S. &c. Second 

 Edition. London, post 8vo, 1856, Van Voorst. 



The former edition of Prof. Ansted' s Elementary Course was noticed 

 in this Journal, and has been favourably received as a text-book. 

 The present edition is very much improved, and may almost be re- 

 garded as a new work ; for although the general divisional character 

 of the earlier volume is retained, yet the rearrangement of the 

 essential parts, the abstraction of comparatively useless and the in- 

 sertion of much new useful matter, of a practical kind, and the 

 bringing of the various divisions of the subject into somewhat better 

 proportion, have considerably enhanced the value of the present 

 Manual. 



Geology may be considered under two different heads — its theo- 

 retical aspects and practical bearing : the one inquiring into the cha- 

 racter, position, and arrangement of the various materials composing 

 the earth's crust ; the other applying the knowledge thus acquired 

 to the practical purposes and ceconomical relations of life. Inde- 

 pendently of the interesting history revealed to us by Geology of the 

 mutations which the earth's surface has undergone, and the remark- 

 able forms of animal and vegetable life which have successively 

 tenanted it, and were adapted to the varying physical conditions, the 

 practical importance of the science has been realized and acknow- 

 ledged ; for it is based upon numerous observed facts respecting the 

 position and occurrence of the different materials — facts too distinct, 

 and too nearly connected, to admit of any fear that the legitimate 

 conclusions that have been drawn from them can ever be shaken. 



Prof. Ansted' s work differs from the ordinary treatises on Geology, 

 and this difference, to some extent, is a useful feature. Experienced 

 geologists may object, that the author has treated too summarily 

 subjects which ought to be and are the object of special works, and 

 that they are too much condensed for a learner. To some extent 

 this may be an objection ; having, however, found the previous edition 

 adapted to a certain class of readers and students. Prof. Ansted has- 

 adhered to the same general plan of including the elements of all 

 departments of geological science, as well as bringing within a nar- 

 row compass a multitude of facts important to be known, arranged 

 in a convenient and systematic order ; but the author is perfectly 

 aware *' that these qualities are obtained at the sacrifice of a certain 

 amount of popularity, and he can hardly hope to render very at- 

 tractive to the general reader the accumulation of material which it 

 has been his chief object not to dissipate." 



The four divisions under which the contents are arranged, include 

 Physical Geography, Mineralogy, Descriptive and Practical Geology : 

 the subject-matter is nearly equally divided, with the exception of 

 the Descriptive portion, which exceeds by about sixty pages each 

 of the others. The first six chapters comprise the mechanical con- 



