Some recent works on Petrology and Mineralogy. 203 
the accounts of the specific minerals are sufficient for the purpose in view, 
Then follow chapters dealing with the constitution and structure of the 
leading types of igneous rocks, grouped under four heads: acid, inter- 
mediate, basic, and ultrabasic. Sedimentary rocks and metamorphism 
are in like manner discussed briefly but clearly. We think the author 
might wisely have limited the scope of the book to this practical side of the 
subject ; for his excursions into the more speculative region are much too 
brief to do justice to the large questions which are here touched. The 
attempt to prove that granites are made from the melting up of sediments 
is likely to puzzle the student, as it does the reviewer, and the statement 
that basic rocks are the most fusible should not be made without some 
attempts to reconcile it with obviously conflicting facts. 
Mr. Moor tells us that the object of his book is ‘ merely to provide an 
elementary guide to the recognition of the minerals that possess commercial 
value . . . In order that an unknown mineral or stone may be quickly 
identified, all those of similar appearance are classified into groups, without 
reference to their composition. Thus all black minerals appear in a group 
by themselves, all ved ones form another group, all minerals having a 
metallic appearance are grouped together, and so on.’ This seems to 
offer the prospector, not a guide to the knowledge of minerals, but a cheap 
substitute for such knowledge. It is true that the author warns him against 
forming any final judgment ‘ until confirmatory tests have been applied ’ ; 
viz., blowpipe tests, specific gravity determinations, and the like. We 
strongly incline to believe that, if the novice follows this very necessary 
counsel, his experience will in the end cost him at least as much labour 
as would a proper training on systematic lines. In addition to its main 
subject, the book includes a general account of mineral deposits by Mr. 
D. A. MacAlister and sundry appendices. It is printed only on one side 
of the paper, presumably to allow for manuscript notes.—A.H, 
-O: 
Bacon is Alive! being a reply to Sir Edwin Durning-Lawrence’s 
“Bacon is Shakespeare.’ By Thomas Sheppard (Hull: A. Brown & Sons, 
46 pp., 1/-) is perhaps not of particular natural history interest, beyond 
the fact that the author ‘ proves’ (according to Sir Edwin’s methods), that 
Bacon wrote ‘ Gent’s History of Hull,’ and Sheppard’s ‘ Geological Ram- 
bles in East Yorkshire.’ Perhaps some idea of the nature of the pampilet, 
(which was the presidential address to the Hull Shakespeare Society) 
can be gathered from Sir Edwin’s criticism thereon, viz.: ‘Sir Edwin 
Durning-Lawrence regrets that the Curator has so degraded the Hull 
Museum and disgraced himself’ ! 
Proceedings of the Sheffield Naturalists’ Club, Volume I., 1910, 146+ 
XIV. pp., 1910, 2/- net. 
Although the Sheffield Society has been in existence forty years, it 
has not hitherto published anything of a tangible nature. The present 
Proceedings certainly appear substantial, and contain the various natural 
history, etc., contributions which were prepared for the Handbook for the 
British Association at Sheffield, the only difference being that they are 
now put together and re-paged. These contributions are by Messrs. 
Howarth, Hobson, Johns, Bradshaw, Snelgrove, Gibbs, Stiles, Denny, 
Patten, Allen, Roebuck, Brady, Hardy, Evans and Brown, and certainly 
most appropriately form a first volume for the Sheffield Society ; a good 
foundation, in fact, upon which to build further work. The excellent 
maps which appeared in the Handbook are also reproduced here. It seems 
a pity that whilst these valuable articles were being reprinted, a larger 
size of paper was not used; as it is the Proceedings are only 74 x 5 inches, 
instead of ordinary 8vo size, and presumably future volumes will have to 
correspond. The title, also, should have been printed along the back ; 
as it is, it is possible, when on the shelves, to be mistaken for an art gallery 
catalogue or a prayer-book. Bibliographers should note that the date 
Ig10 on the cover really ought to be 1g1t. 
1g11 May 1. 
