16 REVIEWS GEOLOGY OP THE YORKSHIRE COALFIELD, ETC. 



The Geology of the Yorkshire Coalfield. By A. H. Gbeen, M.A., F.G.S., 

 R. Russell, C.E., F.G-.S. (Geological Survey Memoir.) 823 pages, 125 

 woodcuts, 26 plates. Price 42s. 

 This great work lias been edited by Professor Green, but a large portion 

 is tbe work of Mr. Russell, and the names of five other members of the 

 Survey appear on the title-page as having assisted in the examination of 

 the district. It is much to be regretted that for want of sufficiently 

 accurate maps the detailed work of the Geological Survey has been 

 arrested on the southern boundary of Yorkshire. Professor Green 

 remarks: "It seems hardly credible that tbe bogs, mountains, morasses, 

 and unproductive wilds of the whole of Ireland should have been long 

 ago mapped and published on the six-inch (to a mile) scale, while so many 

 of these large mining districts, to which our country owes her wealth and 

 importance, have still to be content with little one-inch maps; but so it 

 is, and, till this anomaly is put right, the detailed survey of the southern 

 portion of the great central coalfield of England must be postponed." 

 All Midland science workers will endorse this statement, and it would be 

 well for the Council of our Union to consider if some appeal could not be 

 made to Government for the more rapid prosecution of this much-needed 

 work. The country described in this memoir extends from Sheffield and 

 Rotherham on the south to Skipton Moor and the Valley of the Wharfe 

 on the north, and from the Pennine ridge on the west to the magnesian 

 limestone escarpment on the east. The rocks which form this area are 

 carboniferous limestone, Yoredale rocks, millstone grit, and lower, 

 middle, and upper coal-measures, overlaid by drift deposits. Of all of 

 these a most faithful and detailed account is given ; indeed, the book is 

 a perfect storehouse of facts relating to carboniferous geology, and will 

 prove a source of most valuable information to such of the local land- 

 owners and colliery proprietors as understand how to avail themselves 

 of it, and this is the more important as Professor Green tells us that 

 "The Yorkshire Coalfield is comparatively virgin ground. Along its western 

 and northern outcrops mining operations have been, indeed, vigorously 

 carried on, but these are, so to speak, bassett workings, exceeding, in 

 very few instances, a depth of 200 yards. The great spread of exposed 

 coal measures in the centre of the basin is untouched, and the portion 

 beneath the magnesian limestone pierced by only a few shafts." The 

 book concludes with a valuable list by Mr. W. Whitaker of 361 books and 

 papers which have been written on the geology of the district between 

 1626 and the present time. It only remains to add that the price is, for a 

 geological survey memoir, a very reasonable one. W. J. H. 



A Guide to tlie Botany, Ornithology, and Geology of Shretcsbury and its 

 Vicinity. Edited by W. Phillips, F.L.S. Shrewsbury : Bunny and 

 Davies. Price Is. 

 We have pleasure in drawing attention to this useful little handbook 

 wbich needs no commendation from us or anyone. The Botany is by 

 Mr. W. Phillips, F.L.S. , the Ornithology by Mr. W. E. Beckwith, and 

 the Geology by Dr. Callaway, F.G.S., &o. 



