Revieics — Geological Survey, Annual Report. 233 



Tt may be pointed out that if this hypothesis of the origin of the 

 Palasolithic brickearths during the reign of "steppe" conditions be 

 accepted, it will account for the non-correspondence of the ancient 

 channels with the present valleys, a thing very difficult to explain 

 if the infilling were caused by ordinary fluviatile action. If the 

 PalEeolithic brickearth be equivalent to the Palasolithic loess of the 

 ancient deserts in Central Europe, it can be understood how during 

 this period of cold drought the smaller streams ceased to flow and 

 their valleys became so filled with rainwash and dust that when 

 a moister climate recurred the streams had to seek new channels. 



I^ IE "^ I IB AAT S. 



I. — Annual Report of the Geological Survey of the United 

 Kingdom, and of the Museum op Practical Geology, for 

 the Year 1896. By Sir Archibald Geikie, D.C.L., F.R.S., 

 Director-General. 8vo. (London : Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1897.) 



THE Annual Report of the Director- General of the Geological 

 Survey since 1892 has contained particulars of the scientific 

 and practical results obtained during the progress of the field-work, 

 and by the ofiicers of the palgeontological and petrographical depart- 

 ments. Hitherto, however, the Report has been published only in 

 the more bulky Report of the Department of Science and Art ; and 

 although reprints of the portion relating to the Geological Survey 

 have been distributed, they could not be purchased separately by the 

 general public. A new departure has now been made, and the 

 present Report is published at the price of 6d, and in advance of 

 the larger departmental volume. 



Occupying 107 pages of closely printed matter, this Report needs 

 the index which has been added to it. A considerable amount of 

 detail relating to all branches of geology, but more particularly to 

 petrographical researches on the ancient schists, and on various other 

 metamorphic and igneous rocks, will be found. Nearly all formations 

 from those of Pre-Cambrian age to the Recent are dealt with, and 

 some facts relating to the Antiquity of Man, to Lake Basins, and 

 other controverted subjects, are included. The Report being in 

 itself a summary of the observations made by the officers engaged 

 on the Geological Survey, it is impossible here to do more than 

 call attention to the publication, which will doubtless find its way 

 into the hands of all working geologists. 



n. — Catalogue des Bibliographies Geologiques. Par Emm. de 

 Margerie. 8vo; pp. XX, 733. (Paris, 1896. Issued April, 1897.) 



rr^HIS Bibliography of Geological Bibliographies is probably the 

 JL most valuable and useful work that has been issued under the 

 auspices of the " Congres Geologique International." It contains 

 3,918 references to lists and catalogues of papers, to papers and 

 memoirs containing copious references to geological literature, and to 

 memoirs and obituary notices of geologists all over the world. 



