Brief Notices. O70 
a district brings out the detail of glaciation, alluvial fans, volcanic 
features, dome mountains, and general physiography or topographical 
geology. 
3. Om SuHares or Canapa anp Scorranp.—Dr. R. W. Ells has just 
issued in the Department of Mines, Canada (Ottawa, 1910), a long 
report on the oil-shale industry of Scotland, New Brunswick, and 
Nova Scotia. This report treats of the geology, history, statistics, 
analyses, cost of plant, commercial value, and many other points 
ees to those interested. 
4, ‘ Krepwants’ ok BuFFaLoEs’ WaLLows”’ THE WorK or EarrH- 
worms.—The South African Journal of Science is the organ of the 
South African Association for the Advancement of Science, and is 
a monthly record of science and economics. In the part for Febr uary, 
1910, J. A. H. Armstrong writes on the geology and mineralogy of 
Natal, and he refers incidentally to those curious pits or hollows 
known as ‘‘elephants’ or buffaloes’ wallows’’. Setting aside the 
older theories as to their origin, (1) wallow holes, (2) native iron- 
ore digging, (3) ancient gold-diggings, (4) percolating waters, 
Mr. Armstrong thinks they are the work of earth-worms alone. 
He gives a number of strong arguments in favour of his views, and 
seems to have made a singular and thoughtful observation. 
5. Movunr Erya.—On March 23 this volcano burst forth into activity 
after a series of minor earthquakes, the outbreak being the most 
violent since the great eruption of 1892. Streams of lava issued from 
five craters, and united to form a great stream that moved at the rate 
of more than 60 feet an hour, and was estimated to be 12 feet high 
and more than 1500 feet in width. Quantities of scorize were also 
ejected mainly from the highest crater. The lava-stream subsequently 
divided, portions extending to the Galvagna district, south of Mont 
San Leo, approaching Borello and also Nicolosi. Ultimately more 
than fourteen craters were in eruption. On the evening of March 26 
the volcanic activity ceased, but a renewed eruption, of less intensity, 
was reported on March 28, and on April 9 it was announced that Etna 
ee again in violent eruption. 
THe New Zeatanp Georoeicat Survey in Bulletin No. 7 (New 
Series), 1909, has issued a report on ‘‘ The Geology of the Queenstown 
Subdivision, “Western Otago Division”, by Mr. James Park. This 
is evidently an attractive “district, as Queenstown “is picturesquely 
situated on the raised lake-beaches and great moraine overlooking 
Queenstown Bay and Frankton Arm. Its scenic marvels and sunny 
salubrious climate have made it the chief centre of the tourist traffic 
in the South Island”. The geological formations consist mostly of 
mica-schists grouped as Paleozoic, with strata grouped as Lower 
Miocene (Oamaru Series), Pleistocene, Boulder-clays, moraines, and 
terrace-gravels, and Recent alluvial deposits. Evidence is given of 
overthrusting in the older schists, whereby wedges of Miocene 
strata have been included along certain thrust-planes, a feature of 
remarkable interest. Proof is also presented to show ‘‘ that the Lake 
Wakatipu region was covered by a continuous ice-sheet of vast depth 
in the Pleistocene period—a continental ice-sheet that reached to the 
sea, and probably covered the greater part of the South Island”’. 
Pr) 
