Revieics — Laccolites of South Africa. 425 



The memoir under consideration is in some respects an aftermath 

 of the recent paper by Dr. "W. F. Hume on Secular Oscillation in 

 Egypt (Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc, 1911), the specimens described haying 

 been largely used for the stratigraphical arguments in that work. 

 The Cretaceous forms come from the extreme west of Egypt, partly 

 from the borders of the Red Sea, and the Tertiary specimens from 

 the Valley of the Nile. The latter are all derived from the Eocene 

 Rocks, and are all Spatangoids, including one new species and one 

 new variety. The Cretaceous species are more numerous, and give 

 occasion for several systematic discussions of importance. 



It is perhaps a sign of the times that in a systematic paper of this 

 magnitude no new species of Cidaris are proposed, and it is certainly 

 a relief for the student of the Cidaroida. A large number of 

 Cyphosomatids, such as Cyphosoma, Hachiosoma, and Psilosoma, are 

 described and figured, many being new. The last-named genus, 

 founded by Pomel, is resuscitated after its recent rejection by 

 M. Lambert, and its revival is supported by five pages of discussion 

 and the description of a new species. It is lamentable to think of the 

 amount of space and energy that have been expended over the 

 unhappy indefiniteness of Pomel's generic diagnosis. It remains 

 to be seen in what way the Revue critique de Faleozoologie will deal 

 with this latest outbreak of heterodoxy, and M. Fourtau seems to 

 anticipate severe treatment. 



A considerable space is devoted to ih.QlIolectypi, and a new species, 

 a. dowsojii, is described. The North African variety of H. cenomanensis 

 receives a name, and is well figured. A new and very fragmentary 

 form of Archiacia is described. Although the principle of the 

 foundation of new species on imperfect specimens is usually disastrous, 

 the excessive rarity of complete examples of this genus makes such 

 treatment necessary, if any progress is to be made. A neAV 

 Kchinobrissus, and a form referred to Epiader in default of a better 

 resting-place, bring the list to a close, save for the Hemiasters. 

 Three species of these are new, and the description of one, 

 a. toxasteristo7na, is accompanied by a valuable table of measurements. 



The four lithographic plates, drawn by E. Gauthier, are clear and 

 adequate, but from many points of view the inclusion of a few more 

 anatomical drawings, as distinct from general views, of the specimens 

 would have been desirable. 



H. L. H. 



Y. — Laccolites of the Bushveld and Kakeoo, South Africa. — In 

 some "Further Observations on the Origin of the Rand Bankets" 

 {S. African Journ. Sci., viii, p. 357, 1912) Professor E. H. L. Schwarz 

 compares the type of laccolite of the Bushveld, Transvaal, with that 

 of the Karroo. In the Transvaal a great laccolite of red granite 

 occupies the Bushveld to the north of Pretoria. It is 255 miles long 

 from east to west, and on an average 80 miles broad, although in the 

 central portions the breadth is nearl}^ equal to the length. The body 

 of the laccolite rests on the rocks of the Transvaal system, with the 

 Black Reef quartzites below, the Dolomite above, and the highly 

 ferruginous sediments of the Pretoria Series on top. Into these latter 



