i894. SOME NEW BOOKS. 223 



Such a compiler must be master of many languages, for most 

 States have their own Geological Surveys, and publish reports in 

 their own dialects, however obscure these may be. He needs great 

 patience and capacity for work to enable him to grapple with the 

 enormous volume of literature, combined with considerable elasticity 

 of mind to avoid treating foraminifera and mammoths alike ; he 

 requires literary ability for lucidity of exposition and accuracy of 

 diagnosis ; he must be thoroughly well versed in zoological methods 

 of enquiry, and completely an fait with the rules of zoological nomen- 

 clature ; while, above all, he must be a sound geologist, fully in sym- 

 pathy with and conversant with the needs and work of his fellow- 

 labourers in the field. If any of these qualities be lacking the chances 

 are that he will do as much harm as good, and have thrown himself 

 in vain under the Juggernaut car of periodical literature. 



It is doubtful whether any other man could be found possessing 

 these qualities in a higher degree than Karl von Zittel, the Professor 

 of Palaeontology in the University of Munich, a brilliant linguist, a 

 masterly teacher, a field-geologist of wide experience in Europe, 

 Africa, and America. Uniting the laborious patience of a North 

 German with the imagination of a Bavarian, he possesses all the 

 qualifications necessary for the compilation of a reliable summary of 

 contemporary palaeontology. For the last eighteen years he has 

 been engaged upon the task which he has now brought to a conclu- 

 sion. 



The " Handbuch der Palaeontologie " is divided into two parts or 

 sections ; the first, in four volumes, dealing with the animals, 

 being by Professor von Zittel himself, while the latter, in one volume, 

 describing the plants, was commenced by the late Professor Schimper 

 of Strassburg, and concluded by Professor Schenk, of Leipsic. The 

 part on the animals alone occupies four thick volumes, containing a 

 total of no less than 3,364 pages, with upwards of 2,976 illustrations. 

 The first part was issued in 1877, ^^"^ the last at the close of 1893. 

 Although a work which has necessarily been such a long period in 

 progress has some portions standing in need of revision, it will be 

 found to contain a complete and reliable summary of the state of our 

 knowledge of extinct animal and vegetable life at the time when 

 the several parts respectively made their appearance. The first 

 volume contains the general introduction, the Protozoa, Coelenterata, 

 Echinodermata, Bryozoa, and Brachiopoda, the second describes 

 the remaining groups of the Invertebrates, the third the Fishes, 

 Amphibians, Reptiles, and Birds, while the fourth is devoted solely 

 to the Mammals. 



Not only is the work issued in the original German, but, with 

 commendable promptitude, four volumes have already been translated 

 into French by Dr. C. Barrois, with the aid of other specialists : 

 these four volumes respectively made their appearance in 

 1883, 1887, and i8gi, and only the one devoted to Mammals re- 

 mains to complete the French issue. It cannot fail to be a matter of 

 regret that there is no prospect of any English translation being pre- 

 sented to the public ; and we fear that the remark of a late President 

 of the Geological Society to the effect that " no English publisher at 

 present would feel justified in undertaking" the task, is only too likely 

 to prove true. 



The description of each separate order commences with a general 

 account of the anatomy, the structure of the skeleton, and a sketch of 

 its distribution in time. The main part of the work consists of more 

 or less detailed systematic description, the whole of such families as 



