Revietcs — Hutchinson'' s Geology. 131 



The greatest interest, perhaps, centres round the Volutidce, where 

 the origin of the columellar plications, their obliquity, number and 

 form, and the characters of the nuclei are set forth at great length ; 

 forming a most important contribution to our knowledge of the 

 morphology of this group, and which cannot fail to become classical 

 material. The author states : " The indications are pretty clear that 

 from the Mesozoic Fusidce are descended, on the one hand Tudicla, 

 Fiilgur, Fasciolaria, and Latiras ; and on the other Vohitomorpha, 

 Volutoderma, Volutilithes, Lyria, Voluta, Caricella, ScapJiella, Aurinia, 

 Turbinella proper and Vasum." 



Considering the extensive range of the monograph, there are very 

 few slips. We maj'^ point out, however, that the sub-genus Suhularia, 

 Monterosato, 1884, should be substituted for Leiostraca, H. and A, 

 Adams, 1853 (non Albers, 1850). The genus Tritonium, Link, 1807, 

 should disappear, that name having previously been employed by 

 Miiller, 1776, for a different mollusc; whilst Nassaria, Link, 1807, 

 fide H. and A, Adams, 1853 (non Uumeril, 1806), should be replaced 

 by Hindsia, Adams, 1850. 



Ancillaria, Lamarck, 1810, is synonymous with Ancilla, Lamai'ck, 

 1799, and the latter name should therefore be preferred, Tornatina, 

 Adams, 1850, should take the place of JJtriculus, Brown, 1845 {non 

 Schumacher, 1817). The name Polygyra cereolus microdonta, Dall, 

 is barely in accordance with the rules of nomenclature. 



The author is, notwithstanding, to be sincerely congratulated on 

 the production of a monograph of such unquestionable value, the 

 like of which has certainly never before appeared in the United 

 States, We anxiously await the publication of Part II., which 

 will contain descriptions of the remainder of the Gasteropoda, the 

 Scaphopoda and the bivalves. G. F. H. 



IV. — The Autobiography of the Earth. By Eev. H. N, 

 Hutchinson, B.A., F,G.S. Small 8vo. pp. 290. (London, 

 Edward Stanford, 1890,) 



THIS little volume is a popular exposition of geology intended for 

 the use of general readers, to whom ordinary text-books are 

 " dry, uninteresting, and even quite unintelligible." Within the 

 space of 300 pages all the principal features both of physiography 

 and stratigraphy are discussed, beginning with the nebular theory 

 and terminating with the advent of man ; and, notwithstanding the 

 brevity and condensation which the treatment of so vast a subject in 

 such limited space entails, Mr. Hutchinson is to be congratulated on 

 the manner in which he succeeds in converting bare statements of 

 fact and theory into pleasant and entertaining gossip. One leading 

 feature of the book is the care bestowed by the author in explaining 

 the methods by which many of the broad conclusions of the geologist 

 have been attained ; while another feature tending to popularize the 

 subject and render it intelligible is the manner in which the operations 

 of the various geological agents are treated successively amid strati- 

 graphical considerations, as the different rock-structures requiring 

 explanation are encountered. 



