262 Reviews — Geological Society's Journal, 



aggregated round those spots which now form the planets in our 

 solar system. For, assuming the possibility of an aqueous origin, 

 and eliminating the theory of central heat, can we not account for 

 all the volcanic and igneous phenomena which we find on the sur- 

 face of the earth by chemical action taking place at a comparatively 

 moderate distance below the surface ? We know that heat and com- 

 bustion can be thus produced, and we know that all the elements 

 which are necessary for its production must have been contained 

 within the earth's sphere." 



The " Proceedings of the Society" contain— 1st. A paper on the 

 Eheetic beds of South Wales, by Mr. E. B. Tawney,^ illustrated with 

 twoplates of the fossils. After giving an account of the lithological 

 character of the beds, Mr. Tawney describes the organic remains 

 found in them ; he has determined twenty new species, many 

 of which, however, appear to be founded u.pon rather obscure 

 specimens. Dr. Duncan adds a very important note on the 

 Madreporaria of the " Sutton Stone," these he has identified with 

 species from the St. Cassian beds, figured by Dr. Gustav Laube. — 

 2nd. Notes on a Section of the Lower Lias and Ehaetic Beds near 

 Wells, Somerset, by the Eev. P. B. Brodie.^ — And 3rd. Dr. Dawson's 

 paper on the Conditions of the Deposition of Coal,^ more especially as 

 illustrated by the Coal-formations of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. 

 The author describes at length the physical characters, and the con- 

 ditions attending the deposition of coal, the remains of animals and 

 plants occuring in it, and gives a descriptive list of the Carboniferous 

 plants found in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, illustrated with 

 eight beaiitiful lithographic plates. 



In the " Miscellaneous " part of the " Journal," are — (1) An ab- 

 stract of MM. Cornet and Briart's discovery in Hainaut, below the 

 sands referred by M. Dumont to the Thanet Sands, of a coarse Lime- 

 stone with a Tertiary fauna.* — (2) A report on the geology of the 

 environs of Tokay, Hungary, by Prof. Szabo. All the rocks in this 

 neighbourhood are of Tertiary age, they consist of eruptive rocks, 

 trachyte and rhyolite ; and sedimentary rocks, the result of decom- 

 posed or disaggregated rhyolite. The soil producing the celebrated 

 Tokay wines is of an argillaceous character, derived from the super- 

 ficial decomposition of trachjrte. Lastly, a notice by Prof. Hoch- 

 stetter of the discovery of Eozoon in the crystalline limestone of 

 Krummau, Austria. 



The Council and Fellows of the Society generally, may con- 

 gratulate themselves that they have the benefit of the services of 

 Mr. Henry M. Jenkins as their Assistant Secretary, whose efficiency, 

 as an Editor, is attested by the manner in which the Journal 

 maintains its high character for scientific value and accuracy of 

 detail, no mean task when such a part as the present quarterly 

 number, occui^ying 224 pages, and illustrated by 10 excellent plates, 

 has to be issued. 



1 See abstract in Geological Magazine, January, p. 39. ^ Idem p. 40. 



* Geol. Mag., February, p. 79. 



* Noticed in Geol. Mag., April, p. 174. 



