566 JRevieus — Geological Survey — Stohe-on- Tren t. 



great interest to know that the same succession is found in the Soutli 

 Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire, and Denbighshire Coalfields. 



A suggestive sentence on p. 37 raises the question whether the 

 Eadstock Coal-measures of the Bristol Coalfield, which Mr. Kidston 

 believes to be still higher in the series, should come on above the 

 Keele Series. Mr. Kidston's palaeobotanical researches led him 

 to suggest that the flora of the Upper Coal-measures of North 

 Staffordshire are transitional between the Middle Coal-measures 

 and the Eadstock Beds. We cannot altogether accept this view as 

 conclusive, because Carhonicola aquilina, a shell which does not, as 

 far as we know, exist above the Ash Coal, is found in the plant beds 

 of Eadstock, and either the plants or the Lamellibranch therefore 

 cannot be of such zonal importance as each specialist would suppose. 

 Up to date, we believe, the Eadstock fauna has not been found out 

 of the Bristol area in England or Scotland. 



We are informed that a larger Memoir on the North Staffordshire 

 Coalfield is in preparation, and we await this with pleasure if the 

 present memoir be an earnest of things to come. 



In the larger memoir we hope for an account of the peculiar lime- 

 stones of the Upper Coal-measures, and some discussion of their 

 methods of deposition and source. The inconstant character of the 

 Blackband ironstones over the whole area points to the probability 

 that they are of secondary origin, iron having replaced calcium in 

 a limestone, for which view there is certain positive evidence. 



The Etruria Marls are largely used for brick and tile making. 

 The green grit contained in them, composed of volcanic material, 

 also stated to occur in other areas at the same horizon, raises an 

 interesting question of whence it was derived, which we hope will 

 be settled in the fuller work on the district. We are glad to 

 note that the red colour of the Etruria Marls is shown to be 

 original ; we have always held that opinion. 



To the fossils are given two pages, but we are promised better 

 things, and the district deserves it. The long and careful work 

 done by Mr. John Ward and others has resulted in a more accurate 

 and detailed knowledge of the palseontology of the North Stafford- 

 shire Coalfield than of any other. 



Some few specific names might have been added without difficulty, 

 but we cannot conceive why Carhonicola lateralis, a synonym of 

 C. aquilina, is quoted as the only species of this important genus 

 worthy of mention. 



Chapter v deals with the Triassic beds, which overlie the edges 

 of the Pottery Coalfield with marked unconformity. The following 

 passage shows that the author had a mental horizon not strictly 

 limited by mere map-making (p. 52, 1. 12): — "In Triassic times 

 land had evidently obtained the upper hand. The wind-blown 

 and false-bedded sandstones of the Bunter period are a sure index of 

 desert conditions, while the beds of salt and gypsum of the Keuper 

 indicate land-locked sheets of water undergoing rapid evaporation. 

 It is diflicult to account for the shingle beds, but it should be 

 remembered that coarse gravels form no inconsiderable portion of 



