ASIA. 135 



Africa is a bed, described as "Claystono Porphyry" and "Trap 

 Breccia," but which the author believes to be glacial ; he suggests that 

 the lower part at least of the Karoo formation may be Permian. The 

 plant-bearing beds of New South Wales and Queensland he refers to 

 the same age ; but no evidence of glacial action has been observed here. 

 The author believes that the Permian glaciation of Central India, S. 

 Africa, and W. Europe were contemporaneous. This leads up to a 

 discussion of the later Tertiary glaciation of India, its exact age and 

 causes. Local changes in physical geography will not explain it ; nor 

 will Mr. Croll's theory account for contemporaneous glaciation in Europe 

 and at the Equator. The true cause is yet to be found. Evidence is 

 given to show that India, S. Africa, and Australia were connected in 

 Permian times, the connexion of India and S. Africa lasting till the 

 end of the Miocene period. The existing fauna gives abundant evi- 

 dence of this ; and the line of the old continent can bo traced by islands 

 and shallow seas between the areas now separated. W. T. 



Blanford, H. F. The Rudiments of Physical Geography for the use 

 of Indian Schools. Ed. 4. Pp. 169. 8vo. London. 



The subject is treated from a geological point of view, with especial 

 reference to the geological structure of India. 



Blanford, W. T. On Flint-cores and Plakes from Sakhar and Rohri, 

 on the Indus. Proc. As. Soc. Bengal, pp. 134-136. 



Shows that the cores of flint that have been found were derived 

 from the Nummulitic limestone. The better-worked flints (found in 

 the Indus) were made by tribes who had established themselves on its 

 banks, while the people of the neighbouring hills were less expert, or 

 perhaps may have lived at an earlier time. E. D. 



. Report on Water-bearing Strata of the Surat district. Bee, 



Oeol. Surv. Ind. vol. viii. pp. 49-55. 



In the extreme east of the district there is basalt ; on this rest Ter- 

 tiary limestones and sandstones (the lowest abounding in nummulites) ; 

 but the greater part is covered with alluvial sands and claj's, the ma- 

 terial of which was brought down by the Tapti, Narbudda, and other 

 rivers. There is evidence of recent rise of land. The wells in the 

 district give, some fresh, and some brackish, water ; the author thinks 

 that originally all the alluvial strata had more or less of salt, and that 

 this has been washed out of those which have been lifted highest, and 

 .which are most porous. From this it is inferred that a deep boring is 

 not Hkely to give better water. F. D. 



David, I'Abbe A. Journal do mon troisi^me voyage d'exploration 

 dans I'empire chinois. [Journal of my third eacploring journey in 

 the Chinese Empire.] Paris Sc London. 



Gives geographical and some geological information, and notices of 

 mines. 



• Drew, P. The Jummoo and Kashmir Territories ; a Geographical 

 account Pp. 568 ; maps and sections. 8vo. London. 



Combined with the geographical description of the country between 



