Reviews — T. C. Cantr ill's Coal Mining. 525 



sea-level was much the same as at present. By this is presumably 

 meant the immediately pre-glacial level, since the Pliocene plateau of 

 southern Britain certainly indicates a much lower position of the land 

 at that time. ^lore attention might perhaps have been paid to the 

 relation of the raised beaches of the south of England and of South 

 Wales to the ' head ' and other somewhat mysterious deposits that 

 have been claimed as of glacial origin, since these seem likely to 

 throw light both on interglacial periods and on the arrival of man 

 iu this country. 



The general get-up of the book and the illustrations are excellent ; 

 it is perhaps permissible, however, to register a gentle protest against 

 its inordinate weight. 



^^ R. H. R. 



II. — Cambridge Manuals. 



Coal Mining. By T. C. Cantrill, B.Sc, F.G.S. pp. 159. 

 Cambridge University Press, 1914. Is. net in cloth, 2s. 6d. net 

 in leather. 



rriHTS little volume forms an interesting addition to a well-known 

 1 series. The author's aim has been to give a general sketch of 

 the historj' and principles of coal-mining, and he has been quite 

 successful. 



In the introduction it is pointed out how intimately our whole 

 civilization is bound up with this industry, and the history of the use 

 of coal is traced from the earliest record, about 300 B.C., to the 

 present day. Incidentally we are given an account of the evolution of 

 the steam-engine in connexion with pumping and haulage. 



We are next introduced to the various kinds of coal and their 

 several uses, the geological conditions of its occurrence, and the use 

 of fossils in distinguishing one part of the Coal-measure Series 

 from another. 



The value of a geological survey and the methods of prospecting and 

 boring are discussed, also the difficulties which are encountered in the 

 pi'ocess of winning the coal, such as the accumulation of water or gas 

 and the presence of faults and washouts. A good idea is given of the 

 principal methods of working, ventilating, draining, and lighting the 

 mine and of underground haulage. 



Finally legal and administrative matters are dealt with. The book, 

 although a mere sketch of the subject, has the outlines well arranged 

 and is written in an interesting style, which holds the attention of 

 the reader throughout. 



III. — Canada Department of Mines. Geological Survey : Museum 

 Bulletin No, 2. 8vo ; pp. iv -f- 140 (of Avhich 4 are printed as 

 plates), 4 folding tables. Ottawa, July 30, 1914. 



THE first number of this publication was entitled "Victoria 

 Memorial Museum Bulletin No. 1 ", and was reviewed in the 

 Geological Magazine for February, 1914 (p. 88). We then said 

 that if it were "intended for the prompt publication of short papers 



