Geological Society, 333 



Handhoolc of Instructions for Collectors. London : The Trustees 

 of the British Museum. 1902. 



This little volume will undoubtedly prove a boon to collectors both 

 at home and abroad. 



In the space of some fourteen chapters the whole duties of a 

 collector of natural-history specimens are set forth, so that in the 

 compass of a small pocket-book he will find directions for the preser- 

 vation, and often identification, of all kinds of specimens, from an 

 elephant to microscopic organisms, fossils, plants, and minerals. 



The capture and, where necessary, the killing of animals is also 

 thoroughly dealt with. Furthermore, a complete list of the tools 

 required, with many figures thereof, has also been included. 



In a future edition, which is certain to be required, we should 

 like to see special attention called to the need for tlie collection and 

 preservation of birds' skeletons, and to the use of the alcoholometer 

 not only as a test for spirit containing specimens, but also for the 

 determination of the strength of clean spirit. It is not always 

 possible to get reKable information as to the strength of spirit. 

 With the help of the alcoholometer the collector can set all doubts 

 at rest and save, perchance, most precious specimens. 



This little work is well illustrated, Avell printed, and strongly 

 bound. 



PROCEEDINGS OF LEAUNED SOCIETIES. 



GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



November 5th, 1902.— Prof. Charles Lapworth, LL.D., F.R.S., 

 President, in the Chair. 



The following communications were read : — 



1. ' The Fossil Flora of the Cumberland Coalfield, and the Palaeo- 

 botanical Evidence with regard to the Age of the Eeds.' By E. A. 

 Newell Arber, Esq., M.A., F.G.S. 



The succession of Upper Carboniferous rocks in the region in 

 question is apparently twofold : an essentially arenaceous series, at 

 least 600 feet thick, consisting of massive sandstones alternating 

 with shales and fireclays, overlying argillaceous and carbonaceous 

 deposits ; the latter forming the productive portion of the coalfield 

 and containing three great coal-seams, traceable throughout the 

 district, although known locally under different names. The Upper or 

 Sandstone Series has yielded very few plant-remains from its upper 

 division, but from the lower division a long list is given of plants 

 collected by the Author, or preserved in the AVoodwardian Museum. 

 A second list of plants, from the upper division of the Carbonaceous 

 Series, is also given, nearly all the specimens having been collected 



Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 7. Vol xi. 24 



