434 



NATURE 



{Sept. 6, 1883 



shells, both individually and specifically, and the gradu- 

 ation of the various types (species) into one another 

 (p. 22). 



In dealing with this latter subject the author has pos- 

 sessed unusual facilities, since himself and his father 

 have availed themselves of the 15,000 Brachiopods col- 

 lected from Brickhill to arrange sets of connecting forms 

 between recognised species of Terebratula, Waldhamia, 

 and Terebratella. It must not be supposed that between 

 all the species enumerated the connecting morphological 

 varieties are equally evident or of equally frequent occur- 

 rence : between some species the passage is simple and 

 clear, both as to the main line and the offshoots, whilst 

 between others much more searching is required to esta- 

 blish the connecting series. 



Brickhill indeed seems to have been a centre, as regards 

 the Brachiopoda, of inordinate fecundity accompanied by 

 considerable inosculation of form, just one of those places, 

 in fact, where the oft-demanded missing link was manu- 

 factured on a large scale, whilst at Upware and other 

 places on the same horizon the form-groups known as 

 " species " had somewhat contracted their circle of varia- 

 tion. Doubtless almost every zoological group has had 

 its Brickhills in the course of ages, though the chances of 

 preservation and subsequent discovery must limit the 

 number accessible to research. Mr. Keeping, having 

 given us valuable and cogent proofs of the mutability of 

 the forms of Brachiopoda, and apparently somewhat 

 uneasy as to the results of his own conclusions, proceeds 

 to assure us that the value of "species" has been con- 

 siderably enhanced by these investigations both to the 

 naturalist and the stratigraphist. 



Glancing briefly at the part devoted to special palason- 

 tology, we learn that the vertebrate remains of Upware 

 are in a great part truly Neocomian species native to the 

 deposit. The probable identity of form of some of the 

 palatal teeth of Jurassic and Neocomian species is insisted 

 on especially in the case of Sphcerodus. 



Coming to the Invertebrata, we find that Cephalopoda 

 are by no means individually numerous ; they are for the 

 most part well-known Aptian species. Neither are the 

 Gasteropoda at all plentiful, though some new species are 

 described, including two of Nerincra, both very rare. 

 This is the more remarkable as the uppermost Jurassic 

 rocks of England are, as far as we know, devoid of this 

 genus. The oysters form an important feature, and, ex- 

 cluding the plaited species, greatly resemble those of the 

 Jurassic rocks. Mr. Keeping is convinced that the shell 

 he refers to Gryphaa dilatata, Sow., is a genuine native. 

 It is somewhat singular that the Oxfordian G. dilatata 

 should have been resuscitated rather than the Portland- 

 Kimmeridge Oslrea expansa, Sow., which swarms in the 

 Upper Kimmeridge (Middle Portlandian) of Bucks and 

 in the Portland stone of several localities. Cm the whole 

 there is a fair list of Monomyaria, including some new 

 species. 



Of the Dimyaria one species of Trigonia occurs, and 

 is restricted, it would seem, to Upware. The Arcadas are 

 well represented, three species of Pectunculus being 

 niven. Of the remaining genera Cypricardia and Cyprina 

 hive the most species, but none are quoted as abundant, 

 though some new species are described. The Brachio- 

 poda, Polyzoa, and Sponges, as every one knows, make up 



the bulk of the fossils, many of the latter being identical 

 with those of Farringdon. 



The table tells us that 151 species are listed from Up- 

 ware and 88 from Brickhill. Of these 45 occur at 

 Farringdon, 39 at Godalming, 24 at Speeton, 21 at Potton, 

 19 at Tealby, Shanklin, and Atherfield respectively, 16 in 

 the Hythe beds, 6 in the Folkestone beds, 1 in the Hun- 

 stanton Red Chalk, and a doubtful case in the Folkestone 

 Gault. 



The book is conveniently got up, not being too large, 

 is well illustrated by Foord, and altogether forms a most 

 desirable volume for the Mesozoic geologist. 



W. H. H. 



OUR BOOK SHELF 



Sound and Music. By Sedley Taylor. Second Edition. 

 (London: Macmillan and Co., 1883.) 



That this excellent elementary work has at last reached 

 a second edition is certainly in one respect satisfactory. 

 But that nine years should have been occupied in the 

 process, while the " popular" rubbish of the paper scien- 

 tists has in many cases (or at least is proclaimed as 

 having) annual or biennial reproduction, is matter for 

 profound regret and meditation. 



We noticed so fully (Nature, vol. x. p. 496) the first 

 edition of Mr. Taylor's work, that it is not necessary to 

 say much now. Some of the parts to which we formerly 

 took exception have been considerably modified ; in all 

 cases but one, we think, for the better. The one excep- 

 tion is that about the use of the word force (or opposite 

 systems of forces) in the explanation of the mutual 

 destruction of sounds by interference. 



The word " timbre " has been excised, and its place 

 supplied by "quality"; but the hideous misuse of the 

 English word "clang" in the sense of a harmonious 

 combination of sounds still disfigures the later- pages. It 

 is time that a definite and suitable nomenclature should 

 be once for all introduced into this part of the subject. 

 There are many words, such as " sound," " note," " tone," 

 &c, which every one seems to thin'-c himself entitled to 

 employ as it pleases him, even to the extent of using one 

 of them occasionally in two perfectly incompatible senses. 

 But almost anything would be preferable to a literal 

 transcription of Helmholtz's words into an English book, 

 without regard to the inevitable incongruities. 



Southern and Swiss Health Resorts. By William Marcet, 



M.D., F.R.S. i2mo, pp. 408. (London : Churchill, 



1883.) 

 Nice and its Climate. By Dr. A. Bar&y, translated, 



with additions, by Charles West, M.D. l2mo, pp. 162. 



(London : Edward Stanford, 1882.) 



This work of Dr. Marcet is written in an easy, popular 

 style, and gives people very much the sort of information 

 they want. It begins with advice to invalids about to 

 visit the Riviera regarding dress and food, next has 

 something to say regarding hotels, boarding-houses, 

 apartments, and villas ; gives some general ideas of social 

 life in the health resorts of the Mediterranean coast, and 

 then proceeds to a more purely climatological description of 

 the Riviera in general and of the particular characteristics 

 of the different towns upon it. Dr. Marcet's residence 

 for some years on the Riviera gives his description of the 

 health resorts there all the accuracy and fulness, without 

 unnecessary detail, which personal acquaintance alone 

 can secure. The same may be said of his description of 

 the health resorts of Switzerland, and his account of the 

 Swiss resorts at low or moderate elevations are particu- 

 larly interesting and useful. As a guide to invalids the 



