46 Reports and Proceedings — Geological Society of London. 



tidal currents are the preponderating force. In broad bays ocean 

 currents, tidal currents, or local wind currents, may, according to 

 circumstances, be the strongest. Upon the outer shore-line the ocean 

 eddy currents are the most eifective, while upon lakes and inland 

 tideless seas the local wind, currents are the most important factor. 

 The method in which various cusps are formed is well illustrated, 

 but the author's explanations are rendered perhaps a little difficult by 

 an American tendency to introduce and coin new words. H. B. W. 



III. — Elementaky Paleontology : Inyertebrate. By Henky 

 Woods, M.A., F.G.S., Demonstrator in Palseozoology in the 

 University of Cambridge. Second Edition. 8vo, pp. xiii and 

 296, with 112 figures in the text. Cambridge Natural Science 

 Manuals. (Cambridge University Press, 1896.) 



PROFITING by the rude blasts of criticism and the equally 

 instructive but gentler experiences gained in teaching, the 

 author has brought out a second edition of his " Elementary 

 Palaeontology," which is a great impi'ovement on the first, which 

 appeared three years since. The book has been materially enlarged, 

 a greater number of genera are described, and references are given 

 to one or more typical species in each genus. The results of recent 

 discoveries, such as, for example, in the Trilobites and Graptolites, 

 have been incorporated in the work. Another important addition 

 is in the illustrations, wliich have been doubled in number. They 

 have professedly been selected for the purpose of explaining the 

 structural features in diffei'ent groups, but in some cases, as in the 

 Ammonites, figures of typical species are given, and the value of 

 the book would have been greater if more figures had been inserted 

 in the text. So far from figures of fossils tending to lead students 

 from making use of actual specimens, we are disposed to think the 

 contrary, for it is very seldom that beginners in Palaeontology 

 attempt to compare their specimens with mere textual definitions, 

 though they will readily do this if the descriptions are supple- 

 mented by figures. Great pains appear to have been taken to 

 ensure accuracy in the definitions, both of the larger and smaller 

 groups, and to those wishing to follow up the subject, the lists of 

 some of the principal palgeontological works will be of much assist- 

 ance. Within its limits this book is a very serviceable introduction 

 to the study of Invertebrate Fossils. 



I^E]I=OI^TS j^intid zPi^ocszEiDiisra-s. 



Geological Society of London. 



November 18, 1896. — Dr. Henry Hicks, F.R.S., President, in 

 the Chair. The following communications were read : — 



1. " On Cycadeoidea gigantea, a new Cycadean Stem from the 

 Isle of Portland." By A. C. Seward, Esq., M.A., F.G.S. 



The specimen described by the author was discovered a short 

 time since in one of the Purbeok Dirt-beds, and is now in the Fossil 

 Plant gallery of the British Museum. In the absence of any fruc- 

 tification, Buckland's generic name of Cycadeoidea is chosen in 



