Reviews—Prof. Prestwich’s Geology, Vol. I. 161 
the “talus” before mentioned, so we naturally look for a due record 
and acknowledgment of them by those who have sifted out and 
sorted the facts; and the long list of authorities referred to or 
quoted by Prof. Prestwich will testify to his laborious research. 
Liven then we miss some well-known names, but when we remember 
that the “talus” includes 43 volumes of the Quarterly Journal, 24 
Geological Magazines, 41 volumes of the Paleeontographical Society, 
not to mention countless other Journals, T'ransactions and Proceed- 
ings at home and abroad, some omissions are not surprising, for 
even the ‘“ Geological Record” has failed to keep pace with these 
publications... And among the long list of papers there are many 
whose interest is purely local, and others that tend but little to 
advance our general knowledge. It might be observed, however, 
that authors would facilitate the study of the literature were each 
one to add a summary of his views and conclusions at the end of 
his papers. 
Geology is indebted, however, not only to those who have written 
papers on various subjects: it is also largely indebted to many 
individuals who have never committed their views to print. This is 
particularly the case with our local geologists who have accumu- 
lated large collections of fossils, and who are ever ready to commu- 
nicate their knowledge to those who come in search of it. 
In reviewing the present work we naturally turn to portions which 
deal with debateable subjects, but as a rule we do not find special 
verdicts on vexed stratigraphical questions, even when we might 
expect them, the reader being left to form his own judgment; the 
most original portions of the book are those which deal with ques- 
tions in physical geology. 
In briefly treating of the Archean rocks, the author observes that 
“although great heat and pressure might effect radical changes in 
early sediments when covered up by thick masses of newer rocks,— 
as are the gneissic rocks of North-Western Scotland, or the felsitic 
rocks of Wales, by overlying Cambrian and Silurian strata,—they 
would not affect Archean areas such as those of North America and 
Scandinavia, which we have reason to suppose have never been 
covered, or only to a very slight extent, by newer strata, and which, 
nevertheless, exhibit either the effects of intense metamorphism, or 
else the effects of hydro-thermal conditions originally different.” 
These views will no doubt interest students of these ancient rocks ; 
we may also note that the organic nature of Hozoon is practically 
accepted by the author. 
In his account of the Cambrian and Silurian rocks some mention 
of Barrande’s ‘Colonies’ might have been given, and also of Mr. 
Marr’s modified interpretation of them. 
The author considers that, during the Coal-period, the atmosphere 
was more dense, and more charged with moisture and carbonic acid, 
and he is led ‘to conclude that the coal-growth was in all probability 
one of extreme rapidity, and consisted of woods and plants contain- 
1 The Geological Record for 1879 was published in 1887. 
DECADE III.—VOL. V.—NO. IV. 11 
