New Books on Geology, etc. 6i 



to our readers, as being the first to be entirely devoted to tiiis fascinating 

 subject — a subject which is of far more importance, both scientifically 

 and economically, than is usually supposed. Some interesting observations 

 on nortiiern ri\'ers arc given. 



Ancient Types of Man, by Arthur Keith, M.D., LL.D. London : Har- 

 per & Bros. 151 pp., 2/6 net. 



Unfortunately we looked at this volume whilst we were busy with 

 some work which was urgently required. Tiie result was the work had 

 to wait. It is most fascinating ; each chapter deals with some well-known 

 type of ancient man ; the Essex, Tilbury, Dartford, Galley Hill, Heidel- 

 berg, Neanderthal, Java, etc., remains being graphically described ; and 

 restorations are gi\'en. 



Characteristics of Existing Glaciers, by Prof. W. H. Hobbs. Macmillan 

 & Co. 301 pp., 13/6 net. 



In this country, and particularly in the northern covinties, much 

 geological work amongst glacial deposits has to be done by many who have 

 had no opportunity of studying modern glacial phenomena in the large 

 glaciated areas of our globe. Glacier-ice at any time is very peculiar in its 

 methods, and cannot always be relied upon to do what it ' ought ' to do, or 

 to go where it ' ought ' to go ; and in dealing with an area glaciated some 

 thousands of years ago, it is not at all unlikely that difficult problems 

 will arise. It is therefore essential that a student of glacial geology- should 

 get a good grasp of the nature of the work existing glaciers are doing, and 

 not merely the small ice-streams of the Alps, but the great ice-caps in the 

 Arctic and Antarctic, as ' the present is the key to the past.' Prof. Hobbs 

 has produced the very volume. By the aid of about 200 diagrams and 

 photographs, with the descriptions thereof, he has placed the student of 

 glacial geology in a far better position than he has ever been before. The 

 erratic way in which ice behaves, whether in the form of small glaciers 

 or large continental sheets, is described in detail, and illustrations are 

 draAvn from all parts of the world — Scott and Shackleton supplying much 

 material for the book. The following headings to one only, out of the 

 ih chapters, will give an idea of the thoroughness of the work, and its 

 usefulness to British geologists : Glacial features due mainly to Deposits, 

 abandoned moraines of mountain glaciers, the tongue-like basin before the 

 mountain front, border lakes, stream-action on the mountain foreland, 

 the outwash apron, eskers and recessional moraines, stream action within 

 the valleys during retirement of the glacier, landslides and rock streams 

 within tlie vacated valley, rock-flows from abandoned cirques, references.' 



British and Foreign Building Stones, by John Watson. Cambridge : 

 University Press. 483 pp., 3/- net. 



This volume is much more than what the author modestly describes as 

 ' A descriptive catalogue of the specimens in the Sedgwick Museum, 

 Cambridge.' It is an excellent handbook and guide to building stones 

 generally ; and besides being very useful to the geological student, will be 

 invaluable to the builder and architect. The first 244 pages are devoted 

 to descriptive notes on building stones of Britain, the colonies, and foreign 

 coimtries, arranged under the heads of Igneous Rocks (Plutonic), Igneous 

 Rocks (Volcanic), Metamorphic Rocks, and Sedimentary Rocks — the last 

 being arranged in geological age. A perusal of this part of the w'ork shews 

 to what an unexpected extent the \-arious beds in the different geological 

 deposits are used for building purposes. Tlie catalogue proper enumerates 

 over 1 100 examples, mostly 4^- inch cubes, with rough, dressed, and 

 polished faces. In addition to the trade and geological names, geological 

 horizons, localities, etc., particulars are given of the nature of the rock, 

 the weight per cubic foot, crushing strain, chemical composition, etc. As 

 every important stone appears to be represented in the Cambridge coUect- 

 tion, it will be seen that the volume is one of unusual value. It is also 

 remarkably cheap, and there is a capital index. 



iQi2 Feb. I. 



