New Books on Geology. 435 
aspects of Welsh wild life. Though largely ornithological, the volume deals 
with geology, folk lore, Welsh life, agriculture, fishes, insects, water supply, 
wild flowers, prehistoric remains, Roman antiquities, and so on, and 
all with the same apparent fluency and ease. He has also an eye for the 
humorous, which gives an added charm to the book. A visitor to Wales 
will considerably add to the value and pleasure of his visit if he first reads. 
Mr. Bolam’s book, which is exceptionally well illustrated and indexed. 
vO 
NEW BOOKS ON GEOLOGY. 
The Age of the Earth, by Arthur Holmes. London: Harper and Bros., 
1913, pp. xii. + 196., 2/6 net. Under the heads of ‘The Time Problem,’ 
‘ Time and Tide,’ ‘ Astronomical Considerations,’ ‘ Denudation,’ ‘ Salinity,’ 
‘Sedimentation,’ ‘ Radioactivity,’ ‘ Thermal Activity,’ etc., Mr. Holmes 
approaches this difficult subiect. As, however, in the copy sent to us, page 
144 is followed by pages 177-192, then 161-195, whereas pages 145-160 
seem to be missing altogether, we have not been able to make out a very 
connective narrative. The words ‘ presentation copy’ are also stamped 
in large letters across three pages, presumably in order to see that no 
improper use is made of this mutilated half-crown book. 
Man and his Forerunners, by H. V. Buttel-Reepen, translated by A. G. 
Thacker, London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1913, x + 96 pp., 2s. 6d. 
net. In this well illustrated volume is an English translation of a book 
which has been well received on the continent, though the recent im- 
portant discovery at Piltdown, Sussex, particulars of which are included, 
makes the English edition even more welcome. The author gives a good 
summary of the more important discoveries of ancient human and human- 
like remains, the Neandertal, Heidelberg, Spy, and Javan relics being 
illustrated and carefully reviewed. Prof. Buttel-Reepen’s little book forms 
a welcome summary of this interesting subject, and is especially welcome 
at the present time. 
The Centenary of a Nineteenth Century Geologist. Edward William 
Binney, F.R.S., etc., ete. {By James Binney]. Taunton, 58 pp. In this 
volume the author gives many details.of the life and work and worries 
of his father, who was well known as a worker in Lancashire and York- 
shire, particularly in the Coal Measures. Binney, the elder, was identified 
in one way or another with Morton Village, Gainsborough, Chesterfield, 
and Douglas, Isle of Man, and photographs of churches, piers, the Trent 
aegir, etc., are therefore reproduced. The book relates many little inci- 
dents relating to the early days of geological science. There are too many 
misprints for so small a work, among the more glaring being ‘ gunnister,’ 
*Muschelolinck,’ ‘dadoxylon Oldhamensis,’ ‘modules,’ and ‘ munifera.’ 
We must say we were very surprised to learn that Binney was the author 
of ‘ninety-five volumes on scientific subjects.’ 
Determinative Mineralogy, with Tables for the determination of 
minerals by means of their chemical and physical characters, by J. Volney 
Lewis, New York and London: Chapman and Hall, 1913, pp. 150. 6s. 6d. 
net. This volume with its extraordinary array of tables has been pre- 
pared primarily ‘for the use of students in determinative mineralogy, 
but it has also been made sufficiently inclusive to meet the demands of 
the geologist and the mining engineer in all but the rarer cases, The accom- 
panying tables include 380 minerals, or from 100 to 150 more than are 
fully described in the current text books. Besides the more common 
minerals and those of economic value as ores or otherwise, many of the 
less common and even rarer species have also been included. Some idea 
of relative importance is suggested by the sizes of type in which the names 
are printed. Those that have been omitted are very rare and, from a 
practical point of view, of little importance.’ 
I9t3 Dec. 1. 
