370 Reviews — Geology of China. 



the scattered notes of others, and to endeavour to form a connected 

 sequence, for comparison of the rock formations of China and other 

 parts of the world." He illustrates his remarks with a geological 

 map of the province, the colouring of which, however, is stated to be 

 " mostly hypothetical ; " on it are marked beds which he considers 

 to correspond with the Trias, New Ked Sandstone, and Carboniferous 

 Limestone of Europe. The coal-measures are developed largely to 

 the south-west of Canton, quartz, schist, and granite extend from Can- 

 ton eastwards, while igneous rocks, as basalts, porphyries, and 

 greenstones occur at some distance north of the city. The structure 

 of the countrjr is shown in an ideal section from Macao to Tsungwha. 



Granite. — The granite, which contains a large amount of mica, as 

 well as an excess of alkaline materials, is readily decomposed ; but 

 it is very concretionary in its structure and iiTegular in character, 

 " so that in many places there are to be seen large masses of the 

 rock which have resisted decomposition, and lie like enormous 

 boulders imbedded in the surrounding matrix ; in places exposed to 

 the wear and tear of tropical rains this matrix has been washed away, 

 and the undecomposed masses, left far and wide over the surface of 

 the hills, have more than once been referred to as the results of 

 glacial action." 



Coal. — Three coal-fields are known to occur in the Quangtung 

 province, but the coal is of a very inferior quality, except at one 

 place to the south of the West river, where good coal is obtained. 



3. — Dr. Lamprey commtmicates a note on the "Water-supply of 

 Shanghai. The well water of the city is generally unfit for use, 

 owing to the large amount of impurities, chiefly nitrate of lime, 

 which it contains. The rivers, likewise, contain a very large amount 

 of impurity, but by being filtered through animal charcoal the water 

 becomes sufficiently wholesome for use. The lake water, though 

 bright and sparkling, contains much impurity, but when filtered it 

 has a decided advantage over all the other waters supplied to the 

 town. Rain water is generally neglected, but were it properly 

 collected and prepared, the author thinks it would be far better than 

 either lake or river water. 



m. — American Geology. 

 Geological Survey of California. 



This survey, instituted in 1860, under the direction of Professor 

 J. D. WTntney, as State Geologist, has recently published two 

 volumes of the progress made to the end of 1864. Geology, vol. i., 

 contains a synopsis of the fieldwork, it is illustrated by numerous 

 sections and views of the country, in it will be fotind a considerable 

 amount of information in regard to the economical geology of the 

 State, all the detailed descriptions of minings, however, have been 

 reserved for a Special Eeport. 



Palceontology, vol. i., comprises the Carboniferous and Jurassic 



