Reviews— Geological Survey of Great Britain. 427 
haying been a predominating factor in the glacial conditions. Never- 
theless it is regarded as ‘‘ reasonable that the Auckland Islands were 
at least 7000 feet high”. The land now attains an elevation in places 
of more than 2000 feet, so that the uprise would have been 5000 feet 
or more, and would ‘“‘ go far to explain the connexion of New Zealand 
with a former antarctic continent”’. The main island of Auckland 
is mostly formed of basalt of middle or late Tertiary age. An older 
basic series, also conglomerate, which may represent an ancient river- 
bed, and trachytes, occupy smaller areas. Over more limited tracts 
there are exposures of granite and gabbro, the actual and relative ages 
of which are undetermined. 
The rocky islands and islets of Snares and Bounty are formed of 
granite. Of the Bounty Islands it is remarked that ‘‘The rocks near 
sea-level are worn smooth not only by the action of the breakers, but 
also by the polishing action of the feet of the seals and millions of 
penguins and other sea birds, which make the island their breeding- 
place. The general rock-surface is as slippery as glass, and exceedingly 
difficult for man to travel over. Immense quantities of guano are 
deposited on the islands during the breeding season, but during winter 
storms it is swept off, with the exception of that which accumulates 
between the boulders ’’. 
Campbell Island and the Snares are much covered with peat, and 
there is a separate article on the soils and soil-formers, by Mr. B. C. 
Aston. 
The main features of the islands are represented in a number of 
photographic illustrations and maps, and the rocks are illustrated by 
micro-sections. The entire work may be regarded as a substantial 
contribution to our knowledge of the natural history of these sub- 
Antarctic islands, with full references to the work of previous 
observers. 
IJ.—Scummary or Procress oF THE GroLogicat SurvEY oF GReEAT 
Briratn anp THE Mosrum oF Pracrican GxoLtoey For 1909. 
pp. iv, 92, with 5 text-illustrations. London: printed for H.M. 
Stationery Office, 1910. Price ls. London, W.C.: I’. Fisher Unwin. 
fY\HE important announcement is made by the Director, Dr. J. J. H. 
Teall, that the Survey of the South Wales Coal-field and that of 
the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Coal-field, on the 6-inch scale, 
have been completed, the work in the latter case having been con- 
nected with that carried out many years ago in the Yorkshire Coal-field 
by A. H. Green and colleagues. We learn also that the 6-inch field- 
work in Cornwall and Devon has been completed so far as at present 
contemplated. It is to be noted with regret that the name of the 
Director does not appear in the Summary; it was omitted also in the 
Summary for 1908. Such an omission is opposed to the prevalent 
notion that a man is responsible for the work he undertakes, and it is 
likely to give considerable trouble in the future to biographers and 
bibliographers. The policy of the Board of Education in omitting the 
names of the chief officers who contribute reports of the work of their 
departments to the General Report of the Board, is again a very 
inconvenient and unjustifiable piece of ‘‘ red tape’’. 
