1893. NOTES AND COMMENTS. 89 



In the comparison of the three Marine Floras, Mr. Murray is 

 dealing with a subject on which he has already published several 

 papers ; and this one, embodying the results of a large amount of 

 work, is a valuable contribution to a subject which has been very 

 little studied. 



The illustrations to this part of the Phycological Memoirs are equal 

 to the last, and in both cases excellent. 



We look forward to welcoming before very long the third part of 

 this interesting book. 



Popular Geology. 



A SLANDER action of some interest has recently been tried in the 

 Court of Session in Edinburgh. A County Council lecturer, Mr. 

 Alexander Johnstone, has been explaining the geology of soils to the 

 " blameless Hyperboreans," and in the course of this, according 

 to Sir Arthur Grant of Monymusk (defendant), he said certain wild 

 and whirling things about the mistake of Providence in not putting 

 more phosphates into the soil of Aberdeen, and made certain criticisms 

 of the Biblical account of the Creation. The plaintiff denied having 

 said such things, though he did say in reply to a question that he was 

 not there to defend the first chapter of Genesis, and possibly he 

 remarked that the account he would give of the creation of the world 

 as proved by science might be more interesting than that given in the 

 chapter referred to. Sir Arthur Grant had anyhow taken the occasion 

 to reprove clergymen for quarrelling among themselves instead of 

 uniting against men like plaintiff, and the Court seems to have agreed 

 with him, and given him the verdict. We should greatly like to hear 

 Mr. Johnstone's, or anyone else's account of the creation of the world 

 " as proved by science." Sir Arthur Grant might then be shown as 

 good sport by scientific men as any of the churchmen now militant in 

 the north could exhibit. Such a match (Dr. Kinns on " Moses and 

 Geology" barred, and Sir Henry Howorth, F.R.S., closured on the 

 "Mammoth and the Flood") may be commended to the organising 

 committees of sections in search of an exciting discussion for the 

 British Association. It would be as seemly as a recent discussion on 

 the Hygiene of Stays. So long as public lecturers regard the book 

 of Genesis as the lamented Mr. Dick regarded King Charles I.'s head, 

 they may expect a return innings, and it is to be deplored in any case 

 that such matters should find their way into the Courts of Justice. 



A correspondent sends us a newspaper-cutting containing a 

 condensed report of this trial, with the remark that "if such bigotry 

 and ignorance of geology prevails in Scotland, it is time some geological 

 missionaries should enlighten the people." Our correspondent forgets 

 that the countrymen of Hutton, Lyell, Murchison, the Geikies and 

 others have already sent missionaries south in this matter, and they 

 might do so again ! 



