552 Notices respecting Ne%o Books. 



earth*. Among these more minute details the following are remark- 

 able. In the carboniferous strata the shale is often so bituminous 

 as to be used for fuel, as at Pitfirrane in Fife, and other places ; and 

 it finally passes into coal. (P. 64.) 



The shores opposite to the Isle of Mull consist partly of a sand- 

 stone, which is distinguished by particular qualities. Dunstaffnage 

 Castle stands on it. On the authority of Dr. Macculloch our author 

 states, that the doorway of the castle is " of a calcareous sandstone, 

 exactly resembling the fatal stone on which the Scottish kings were 

 crowned, and which is said to have been carried from it to Scone by 

 Kenneth II., and four centuries after removed to Westminster Abbey 

 by Edward I." (P. 158.) 



In speaking of the origin of the Glen More-na-Albin, or Great 

 Glen of Scotland, the author has occasion to remark that the depth 

 of Loch Ness is 810 feet, " which is three times that of the sea be- 

 tween Scotland and Norway." (P. 197.) 



The following passage is highly instructive. The author is de- 

 scribing Caithness, which consists in great part of secondary rocks 

 in uniform strata, unbroken by the irruption of igneous formations. 

 " That part of it," says he, " which lies to the north and west of 

 Ulbster forms a monotonous undulating plain, almost devoid of run- 

 ning streams, and deformed by stagnant pools of water and dreary 

 mosses, in many places covered by a black rusty crust of the accu- 

 mulating bog iron ore. The only dry ground is along the edge of 

 the cliffs which rise precipitously from the ocean. The southern 

 part is more diversified with hills, rocks, and valleys, and is drained 

 by more numerous streams. The peculiar features of this district 

 are closely connected with its rock formations, which dip regularly 

 northwards at a low angle, and have been little disturbed by intru- 

 ding rocks. Nothing can more forcibly demonstrate the highly 

 beneficial effects of these igneous formations, which have some- 

 times been described as inconsistent with a scheme of perfect wis- 

 dom and beneficence, than the consequences seen to result from their 

 absence. Scarce a sixth of this country is cultivated, and nearly 

 two-thirds are regarded as unprofitable ; whilst in Fife, where igneous 

 rocks abound, the cultivated ground is two-thirds and the unprofit- 

 able surface about a tenth. In Fife 250 individuals dwell on every 

 square mile ; in Caithness thev do not amount to fifty." (Pp. 205, 

 206.) 



The style of Mr. Nicol's book is clear and elegant. His facts are 

 supported by numerous authorities with useful references. His com- 

 bination of general views with particular descriptions is most judicious 

 and philosophical. As a guide to the Scottish traveller his work 



* We have noticed the omission of but one circumstance relative to the 

 geology of particular districts, viz. the recent floods in Morayshire, of which 

 a most distinct and minute, and consequently a very instructive account, 

 was published by Sir T. D. Lauder. The agency of running water, as de- 

 scribed by him and exemplified in the case referred to, must be taken into 

 account in all inquiries relative to the origin of sedimentary rocks, of 

 whatever age. 



