45^ Reviews and Book Notices. 



During the year of his presidency of the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union, 

 Prof. Seward has produced the long-expected volume II. And it has been 

 worth waiting for. Whilst pressure of work has been largely responsible 

 for the delay in the appearance of the second volume, this has to some ex- 

 tent been advantageous. Had the volume been published a decade ago, 

 much of its contents would have been out of date. This would have been 

 •especially so with regard to the ferns and the extinct members of the 

 gymnosperms ; recent contributions to palseobotany having niaterially 

 altered our outlook in these directions. Fortunately this does not obtain 

 "with regard to volume I., most of which is as ' up-to-date ' to-day as it was 

 then. Though beginning with page i, in the second volume, its first 

 chapter is chapter XII., thus following on from the first volume. Chapter 

 XII. concludes with Sphenophyllales ; * and the following chapters deal with 

 the Psilotales ; Lycopodiales ; Arborescent Lycopodiales ; Sigillaria ; 

 Stigmaria ; Bothrodendreae ; Seed-bearing Plants closely allied to members 

 of the Lycopodiales ; Filicales ; Fossil Ferns ; Marattiales (fossil) ; 

 Psaronieae ; Ophioglossales (fossil) ; Coenopterideae ; Hydropterideae 

 and Sagenopteris ; and Genera of Pteridosperms, Ferns, and plantae 

 incertae sedis. In perusing this work it is apparent that it has been thorough- 

 ly revised almost on the eve of publication, and throughout there are indi- 

 cations of the author's acquaintance with the most recent papers on the 

 various sections with which he deals. For the benefit of the student, 

 also, full references are given to the authorities for the statements made, 

 and to the papers where more detailed information may be obtained. 

 References occur on almost every page, and on many there are quite a 

 number. In this way a worker in any particular branch can easily ascer- 

 tain what has already been done. In fact it can safely be stated that 

 Seward's ' Fossil Plants ' is as necessary to the palseobotanist as Geikie's 

 well-known Text Book is to the geologist. 



Some idea of the usefulness of this volume can be gathered from the 

 fact that it contains over 250 carefully prepared illustrations, either from 

 photographs or drawings, shewing plant structure, etc. Mrs. Seward 

 has again rendered excellent service with regard to the illustrations. We 

 are glad to learn that a third volume is to appear, which will be devoted 

 to the seed-bearing plants, etc., and it is pleasing to notice also that it is 

 the author's intention to complete Volume III., with as little delay as 

 possible. 



A Treatise on Ore and Stone Mining, by Sir Clement le Neve Foster, 

 revised by Prof. S. H. Cox. Seventh Edition, London : Charles Griffin & 

 Co. 800 pp., price 28/- net. 



The fact that a seventh edition of this enormous work has been called 

 for within so short a period of the appearance of the sixth edition, speaks 

 for itself. There have been so many poor books published recently, 

 professing to be guides to mining, etc., that it is a pleasure to see one 

 that is obviously prepared by a master hand. In addition to the contri- 

 butions by the late Sir Clement Le Neve Foster, the Treatise contains the 

 results of the work of many recognised mining experts, including the 

 late Bennett H. Brough. The publishers have also been fortunate in 

 securing the services of Prof. Cox, of the Royal School of Mines, who has 

 revised the present edition. The names mentioned, alone, are every 

 guarantee that the Treatise is of the first rank. An idea of the extent 

 and scope of the work can be gathered from the headings of the chapters, 

 which are, Occurrence of Minerals ; Discovery ; Boring ; Breaking Ground ; 

 Supporting Excavations ; Exploitation ; Haulage ; Hoisting ; Drainage ; 

 Ventilation ; Lighting ; Access ; Dressing ; Legislation ; Condition of 

 the Miner ; Accidents, and Principles of Employment of Mining Labour. 

 Each of these chapters is sub-divided ; sometimes with as many as forty 



* Spelt Spenophyllales in the Table of Contents. 



Naturalist, 



