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NEW BOOKS ON GEOLOGY. 
Complete Mineral Catalog, compiled by W. M. Foote. Twelfth Edition. 
320 pp. The Foote Mineral Co., Philadelphia. > 
This catalogue is exceptionally well prepared, and is illustrated by 
300 figures and plates. Though ostensibly a trade catalogue, it will be 
found particularly useful to teachers and museum curators. 
Yorkshire Type Ammonites. Edited by S. S. Buckman, F.G.S. Part 4: 
Wesley & Sons, IgIt. 
We are glad to see that this useful work is progressing. The present 
part contains ten excellent plates and ‘ Descriptions Nos. 31-37.’ The 
specimens described and figured are Ammonites semiselatus, cornutus, 
quadricornutus, fabricatus, vadiatus, ayctus, and nautiliformis. The plates 
are from photographs by Mr. J. W. Tutcher, and are all that can be desired, 
The Miner’s Guide, by F. P. Mennell, F.G.S. London: Gerrard, Ltd. 
vill.+196 pp. Price 4/- net. 
This is ‘a practical handbook for prospectors, working miners, and 
mining men generally,’ and is admittedly a compilation. It is ‘ practically 
a third edition of the author’s ‘“‘ Rhodesian Miner’s Handbook,’ ’ and deals 
principally with mining as carried on in South Africa. There are a number 
of diagrammatic and photographic illustrations, and most of the points 
likely to be of service to prospectors are brought forward. 
Lessons on Soil, by E. J. Russell, D.Se. Pp. 132+xvi. Cambridge 
University Press, I911. Price 1/6. 
In this excellent little elementary treatise Dr. Russell has brought 
together nine well written and well illustrated chapters, dealing with 
“What is the Soil made of ? ’ ‘ What Lime does to Clay,’ ‘ The Dwellers in 
the Soil,’ The Soil and the Countryside,’ etc. The diagrams illustrating 
experiments, etc., are particularly well prepared, and will appeal to the 
beginner, as will also the fine photographs of typical landscapes, etc. 
Pebbles, by E. J. Dunn, F.G.S. Melbourne: G. Robertson & Co: 
122 pp.+76 plates. 
The director of the Geological Survey of Victoria has produced a 
remarkable book on a simple subject, not the least interesting feature of 
which is the extraordinary series of pebbles figured by the half-tone 
process, on no fewer than 76 plates. Upon these are figured pebbles of 
every possible description—round, oval, egg-shaped, cylindrical, facetted, 
banded, perforated, striated, carved, decorated, and lichen-covered. He 
deals with the sizes, shapes, forms, materials, and variations of pebbles, 
their methods of transport, their uses to man, etc. The principal surprise 
to us is that of such a simple subject the author has been able to say so 
much. ‘The 250 illustrations are very fine. 
Causal Geology, by E. H. L. Sehwarz. London: Blackie & Sons; 
Ltd. viii.t248 pp. 7/6 net. 
The author of this book has spent some years on the geological survey 
of the colony of the Cape of Good Hope, and whilst there met with many 
curious geological phenomena, which are described in ‘Causal Geology.’ 
We learn that ‘ this work is an important contribution to the science of 
geology, and particularly to the discussion of the Planetismal Hypothesis of 
Prof. T. C. Chamberlain.’ The author postulates that ‘ The rocks on the 
surface of the earth are in constant motion ; the force of cohesion in rocks 
is insufficient to keep them rigid when in large masses; the area of the 
surface of the globe is not a diminishing one; the surface of the earth is 
uniform in average texture throughout; and the earth is growing by the 
addition of meteoric matter, and the composition of the earth as a whole 
is represented by the average composition of this matter.’ The work is 
illustrated by a series of photographs and diagrams, all bearing upon the 
geology of South Africa. Whether, however, the author makes out a 
good case we must leave our readers to judge for themselves, after they~ 
have read the book. 
Naturalist, 
