REVIEWS 91 



The Geology of New Zealand. By James Park, Professor of 

 Mining and Mining Geology in the University of Otago. Pp. 

 488, with 145 illustrations, 27 plates, and a colored geological 

 map. London: Whitcombe & Tombs, Limited, 1910. 



This new work is welcome to the geologic reader because it gives 

 in organized, systematic, and relatively brief form a general view of 

 the geology of a country whose geologic literature is otherwise scattered 

 and to most geologists not readily accessible. It must also be acceptable 

 to the teachers and students of New Zealand in that it gives them a 

 view of geological history founded on the formational record of their 

 own land. The work combines some of the features of a synoptic 

 governmental report with those of a textbook. It was written originally 

 for the Department of Mines, but only a part of it was published by 

 the government — a fact which probably accounts for a seemingly dis- 

 proportionate treatment of certain topics as compared with others, and 

 also some lack of continuous progression under the control of a well- 

 chosen scheme. 



Detailed descriptions of the various formations comprise the first 

 portion of the work. Each series is discussed first under the head of 

 distribution, thickness, and age; then the faunas and floras are taken 

 up, followed by the economic minerals and the igneous activity of the 

 time. As might not unnaturally be expected in a country where even 

 today the glaciers are such splendid spectacles, the Glacial Period has 

 received much fuller treatment proportionately than the other periods. 

 In an interesting discussion upon the excavating power of glaciers, the 

 assertion is made that it is certain that ice can only excavate its bed 

 when the pressure of its mass exceeds the ultimate crushing strength of 

 the bed rock, and that the pigmy valley glaciers of today are incapable 

 of excavating their beds. That glaciers, even those of the small valley 

 types, may be active eroding agents seems to find much less favor with 

 the English school of geologists than with the American. 



The last portion of the book is devoted to economic geology. Natu- 

 rally the greatest emphasis and fullest treatment are given to the very 

 extensive coal fields and the important gold deposits, both of which have 

 long attracted notice. 



A very welcome feature of the book is the closing chapter, which 

 presents a complete bibliography of the geology of New Zealand cover- 

 ing 56 pages. This book places the principal facts of New Zealand 

 geology at the disposal of any geologist who reads English. 



R. T. C. 



