Reviews and Brief Notices. 369 



spite of all that has been accomplished during the last 25 years 

 towards settling the debateable points of the theory of coral reefs, 

 much remains to he done. 



Most important is an extensive system of boring^ at well-selected 

 points, to include barrier and fringing reefs and atolls in volcanic 

 and other districts, as well as elevated coralliferous limestone 

 islands, or islands partly limestone and partly volcanic ; to be 

 supplemented by lines of soundings and dredgings taken from low- 

 water mark to the depths at which oceanic slopes are met. 



The data thus obtained would give us the pitch of the slope of 

 the strata underlying a barrier and a fringing reef, and of its 

 continuation beyond the outer edge of the barrier reef. 



For an atoll the bore would indicate the width of the talus, the 

 original dimensions of the summits upon which the recent reef 

 rock material was deposited, and the extent of lateral growth, both 

 seaward and lagoonward. This would give a degree of precision 

 now wanting in Professor Agassiz's recorded observations. 



"On whatever side" (says Professor Sollas) "judgement may 

 ultimately be given in the question, the thanks of the scientific 

 world must undoubtedly be conceded to Sir John Murray for having 

 disturbed a decided opinion from its slumber, for having awakened 

 a fresh interest in Darwin's theory, and in thus leading to renewed 

 investigation, which is both adding to our knowledge and suggesting 

 fresh inquiry." {Natural Science, vol. xiv, p. 36.) 



Of the 236 plates accompanying this great work the bulk are by 

 the ' Heliotype ' process, which is much more successful in its results 

 than the half-tone blocks. Those plates giving views of distant 

 reefs are only a monotone, and, as pictures, are not a success. It is 

 possible that the lens of the camera employed was not well adapted 

 for distant landscapes. 



The near views of scenery, on the contrary, are very beautiful, 

 and many of them most charming both for the rock-structures and 

 the vegetation. 



We heartily commend this grand work to the attention of our 

 readers as one of the most valuable contributions yet made to the 

 general history of coral reefs. 



III. — Brief Notices. 



Queensland. — Bulletin 18 ^ of the publications of the Geological 

 Survey of Qaeensland contains, amongst other matter, No. 180, 

 Geological Survey Eeport, which is of a most interesting nature, 

 dealing with a land of which little is known. In it Mr. C. F. V. 

 Jackson writes a "Eeport on a visit to the West Coast of Cape 

 York Peninsula and some islands of the Gulf of Carpentaria ; also 

 reports on the Horn Island and Possession Island Goldfieids, and 



^ This work has been admirably carried out at Funafuti, and we are anxiously 

 looking for the publication of the results of the examination of the cores, which has 

 been carried out by Professor J. W. Judd, Dr. G. J. Hinde, and Dr. E. "W. Skeats. 



2 For earlier notice see Geol. Mag., July, 1903, p. 336. 



DECADE IV. — VOL. X. — NO. VIII. 24 



