REVIEWS—A MANUAL OF GEOLOGY. 49 
REVIEWS. 
A Manual of Geology, treating of the Principles of the Science, with 
_ Special Reference to American Geological History. By James D. 
Dana, M.A., LL.D. Philadelphia: Theodore Bliss & Co. 1863. 
The appearance of this much desired volume is gratifying, in more 
respects than one, to those interested in the progress of Natural 
Science. Not only does the work supply, and supply thoroughly, a 
long-felt want; but its publication may be looked upon, we hope, as 
strong presumptive evidence that the serious and protracted illness 
of Professor Dana, by which the issue of the work was for some 
time retarded, has now happily passed away. Until the appearance 
of this treatise, we had no work at all approaching to a complete or 
exhaustive character, on American geology. Popular compilations, 
and some of undoubted merit, like the Manual of Professor Hitch- 
cock for example, have, it is true, appeared from time to time; but the 
illustrations and materials of these are largely drawn from European 
sources ; and whilst certain departments of the subject may be fully 
elaborated, others are comparatively untouched, or, at least, are far 
from representing in a satisfactory manner the present aspect of the 
science. “In Professor Dana’s Manual, these objections will be 
sought. for in vain. The work is thoroughly American in its cha- 
racter, without being exclusively so; as ample reference is made to 
the geology and physical characteristics of the globe generally. Its 
pages are copiously illustrated with figures of American fossils, with 
maps of interesting geological regions, and with sections and views 
of rock structures as exhibited on this continent. As regards com- 
pleteness, moreover, the work may be relied upon in all respects, as 
a‘ faithfui exponent of the present state of our knowledge on the 
subjects brought under review. In its first division, under the head 
of Physiographic Geology, we are presented with a general survey of 
the surface-features of the Earth, embracing the distribution of 
land and water, the physical characters of the great continents and 
oceanic basins, the more important atmospheric phenomena, and 
other kindred topics. The second part, entitled Lithological Geology, 
is devoted to a special consideration of the mineral constituents, 
varieties, structural details, &c., of rock masses, as illustrated more es- 
pecially by American types» The third and principal subdivision of 
Vou. VIII. E 
