Revieics — EMen's Applied Geology. 521 



the author aims to teach all that is required for the elementary stage 

 of the Science and Art Examination, and for the examinations of the 

 Oxford and Cambridge Schools' Examination Board. He places 

 before his readers a concise account of all the principal facts and 

 phenomena relating to geology, admirably arranged and expressed. 

 At the end of each chapter is a recapitulation, and this is followed 

 by a series of questions given at different times at the examinations 

 before mentioned. 



The work is illustrated by three hundred and ten excellent 

 photographic views of rock-scenery and structure, and diagrams 

 of geological sections and fossils. The descriptions of rocks and 

 minerals, of rock-structures and earth-mt)vemeiits, of denudation and 

 rock-building, leave little or nothing to be desired. Something 

 might have been added to the description of ' subsoil ' (p. 47) in 

 reference to soft strata such as sand, gravel, or clay where the 

 subsoil is practically the actual formation or rock. Such instances 

 differ from the illustration relating to freestones where there is an 

 intermediate weathered portion of rock or rubble, between the soil 

 and the undisturbed rock. Opinions will differ with regard to the 

 definitions of loam and grit on p. 135, but it is idle to call attention 

 to such matters when the entire work bears evidence of most careful 

 observation and research, and brings clearly before the student the 

 latest information on all important subjects. A good general account 

 of the leading fossils is given, and the methods of classification are 

 popularly explained. This part of the subject is followed by 

 a review of the principles of Historical Geology, and then each 

 System is described. Taking the Ordovician System, the subject 

 is treated under the headings of Name, Subdivisions, Volcanic Bochs, 

 -Fossils, Economics aiid Landscape, and Conditions of Formation. 

 Evidently the author leaves for advanced students particulars of 

 the characteristic fossils of the subdivisions. The Origin of Land- 

 scape and Economic Geology are the subjects of the last two 

 chapters, and there is an excellent index. We have no hesitation 

 in commending this little work to all beginners desirous of obtaining 

 a sound and thorough introduction to geology; and we heartily 

 congratulate the author on the accomplishment of his useful task. 



IV. — Applied Geology. Part I. By J. V. Elsden, B.Sc. (Lond.). 

 8vo ; pp. 96. (London : " The Quarry " Publishing Co., 

 5, Arundel Street, Strand, W.C, 1898. Price 5s.) 



doubt there is need of a good general work on Applied Geology, 

 as the excellent little treatises by Ansted & Page do not 

 represent the present state of knowledge. A work professing to 

 deal with all branches of applied geology must treat of them 

 either in a very abridged form, as in the case of Page's Economic 

 Geology, or in a series of volumes, and no single individual can 

 possess intimate knowledge sufficient to justify his dealing fully 

 with the subjects of water-supply, coal-mining, metal-mining, 

 building-stones, etc. We are rather at a loss to know how to 

 criticize the present part of Mr. Elsden's treatise, because in his 

 preface he tells us " that these preliminary chapters scarcely give 



