164 = =Reviews—Prof. A. Gaudry’s Permian Reptilia, ete. 
Mollusca returned for a time to the coasts of Scotland.” He adds 
that “the phenomena, as a whole, go to show that the glaciation of 
Great Britain was not due to a great polar ice-cap, but was of local 
and independent origin.” With respect to the account of the sup- 
posed great thickness of Boulder-clay at Boston (p. 446), we should 
mention that a different interpretation of the section was given by 
Mr. Jukes-Browne (Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. vol. xxxv. p. 418). 
In the preface to the former volume the author announced himself 
as to a certain extent a non-conformist in Geology, inasmuch as he 
had been led to believe that in the long course of geological 
history, the physical forces underwent constant variation in 
degree and intensity of action. While we believe that strictly 
uniformitarian views are held by few if any geologists at the 
present day, we are quite ready to admit that the views put forth by 
Prof. Prestwich will exercise a wholesome influence on geological 
thought, although certain of the opinions to which we have drawn 
attention may possibly be regarded as somewhat extreme and “ out 
of date.’ In the concluding chapters of this second volume the 
author discusses some of the theoretical questions on the primitive 
state of the earth, and the condition of its crust. Here, too, he 
expresses his disagreement with the notion of “the lengthened per- 
manence, as a whole, of the ocean-troughs.” 
Space will prevent our mentioning many other subjects of interest 
discussed in this volume, but we may confidently commend it to the 
advanced student, the specialist, and the professor, indeed to all who 
seek to become acquainted with modern achievements in geological 
science ; for all inquirers will find some matters of particular interest 
to them, obscure topics on which a new light is thrown, or theoretical 
subjects illuminated in a way differing from that usually held to be 
orthodox. 
Ii.—Pror. A. Gaupry on THE Permian ReEpriniA AND AMPHIBIA 
oF France. (“ L’Actinodon,” Nouv. Archiv. Mus. d. Hist. 
Nat. vol. x. pp. 1-82, pls. i.-iii. (1887). “‘ Les Vertébrés Fossiles 
des Environs d’Autun,” Mem. Soc. Hist. Nat. d’Autun, vol. i. 
pp. 1-90, pls. i.-xi. (1888). 
HE petroleum works in the Permian shales of Igornay and 
Autun in the department of Saone-et-Loire of Central France 
have brought to light a number of vertebrate remains which now 
enrich the collection of the Paris Museum, and throw much light on 
the fauna of this early epoch. These remains, as we learn from 
Prof. Gaudry’s memoirs, have been collected and sent to the Museum 
through the exertions of MM. Roche and Bayle, and other gentlemen 
connected with the works; to whom all students of this branch of 
palxontology are deeply indebted. And it is with regret we learn 
that the all-pervading American competition has caused the closing 
of these works for the present. M. Gaudry records seven species of 
Reptiles and Amphibians, referred to six genera, and seven species 
of Fishes, arranged under five generic headings, from these deposits. 
