1864. | Geology and Paleontology. 675 
phical paleontologist becomes impressed with the consciousness of the 
imperfection of the geological record ; while the man of mere fact—the 
Gradgrind and Bounderby of paleontology—still clings to his own 
feeble interpretation of imperfect specimens, and mistaking fancy for 
fact, adopts as finally true those erroneous notions which the “dreamer” 
only tolerates provisionally as a plausible hypothesis. 
The other articles in these numbers are also interesting ; besides 
which there are several abstracts of foreign memoirs, reviews of recent 
publications, reports of proceedings of field-clubs, and other matter of 
interest to the geologist.* 
Professor von Ettingshausen has lately published a pamphlet, 
entitled ‘ Ueber die Entdeckung des Neuholliindischen Charakters der 
Hocenflora Europa’s, und tiber die Anwendung des Naturselbstdruckes 
aur Férderung der Botanik und Paleontologie,’ and although its 
immediate object is merely to show that the author was the first to point 
out the Australian character of the Hocene flora of Europe, and that 
nature-printing can be used advantageously for the illustration and 
comparison of recent and fossil plants, yet it advances our knowledge 
of the subjects treated, by bringing prominently forward the facts 
essential to his argument ; and we freely admit that, after reading his 
pamphlet, few besides his antagonist, Professor Unger, would be likely 
to dispute with him either of the points at issue. The advantages 
attending the employment of the process of nature-printing for pur- 
poses of comparison appear so obvious, that Professor Unger’s opinion 
to the contrary is not a little remarkable; and as regards the Austra- 
lian character of the Hocene plants, Professor Unger’s “ Dissolving 
Views ” have long made familiar to us his opinion respecting their 
“insular” character, as distinguished from the inference of Professor 
von Httingshausen that they belonged to a “Continental” and New 
Holland flora. 
Dr. Dawson’s memoir on ‘ Air-breathers of the Coal-period, con- 
tains descriptions of all the remains of supposed air-breathers that 
have been found in the carboniferous strata of Nova Scotia; many of 
them have been described before by Professor Owen, the author, and 
others, so that this publication may be considered a synopsis and 
résumé of the whole subject. The vertebrate remains belong to five 
genera—Hylonomus, Baphetes, Dendrerpeton, Hylerpeton, and Hosaurus ; 
but the invertebrata are represented only by a Myriapod and a Pupa, 
with possibly some insect-remains. The vertebrate fossils were dis- 
covered, in the first instance, in the interior of trunks of trees, by Sir 
Charles Lyell and the author; but the remains of Hosaurus (two _ 
vertebrae only) have been since discovered by Mr. O. C. Marsh. 
Respecting the affinities of the vertebrata—the most important 
subject treated —it may be briefly stated that Dr. Dawson refers 
Baphetes and Dendrerpeton to the Labyrinthodonts, Hylerpeton doubt- 
fully to the Archegosaurians, and Hylonomus to a new order (Micro- 
sauria), which he does not define ; while to Hosaurus he does not assign 
a place. 
* Our limited space compels us to postpone the consideration of the succeeding 
numbers of * The Geological Magazine.’ 
