6 Notes and Comments. 
Classification of the Local Jurassic Rocks,’ by Mr. S. S. Buck- 
man. Briefly, the main directions in which our knowledge of 
the area has been increased are with regard to the system of 
glacier lakes so admirably worked out by Prof. Kendall; the 
extraordinary discoveries made among the fossil plants of 
the district by Prof. Seward and others ; and in naming and 
zoning of the Ammonites, by Mr. Buckman. 
SPECIAL WORK. 
Some idea of the extent to which this last work has pro- 
ceeded may be gathered from the table on page 65. From this 
we learn that our old friend Ammonites annulatus is now 
‘ Dactylioceras tenuicostatum; D. gracile’; and Ammonites 
spinatus is now ‘ Paltopleuroceras hawskerense and other species.’ 
On the other hand certain species frequently recorded and 
referred to on the old maps are not now recognised at all, 
and are dismissed with the words, ‘ No Species seen.’ All 
this is the result of specialising, which is undoubtedly valuable, 
and in all probability the new names are accurate, but it makes 
the work of an amateur, and even of a fairly advanced student, 
very disheartening, if not impossible. We are sorry that the 
Survey has not adopted the example set in the second edition 
of the memoir for the adjoining district South of Scarborough, 
which was illustrated by many excellent plates of the coast 
and landscape, from photographs; but at 2s. 6d. he present 
Memoir of 144 pages cannot be looked upon as dear, though 
the almost total absence of illustrations and the poorness of 
paper makes us wish that our Government surveyors had the 
funds at their disposal to enable them to produce volumes 
after the style of those of the well-known American surveys. 
We notice that the bibhographies appearing in The Naturalist 
are recommended to those desiring particulars of the papers 
written on the district. 
THORBURN’S BRITISH BIRDS.* 
The second volume of this magnificent publication has made 
its appearance, and, if possible, is even more beautiful than 
the first. It contains plates 21 to 40, and deals with Passeres, 
Picarie, Striges, Acciptres, Steganopodes and Herodiones. 
The various species are dealt with tersely, accurately, and in 
a pleasant style, on the 72 pages of letterpress. The frontis- 
piece represents the Golden Eagle (adult and young) in flight, 
and is perfect. We do not remember having seen a finer 
representation of this king of birds. The plate of Swifts and 
Nightjars is also remarkably fine. The Eagle Owl, which 
alone occupies plate 28, is another masterpiece. We can 
only wish the book the success it certainly deserves. 

* Vol. II., 72 pages and 20 plates, 4to. London: Longmans, Green 
& Co., 31s. 6d. 
Naturalist, 
