REVIEWS—THE OLD GLACIERS OF SWITZERLAND, ETC. 51 
these organisms as one order of Amorphozoa. Without waiting for 
the expression of Dr. Bowerbank’s views, we would not decide on 
the subdivision of the class, but would temporarily employ one of the 
existing arrangements to afford us that aid of system without which 
we can hardly proceed a step usefully inthe study of nature. What- 
ever may be its defects, that founded on the nature of the skeleton, 
may serve the purpose, and at least exhibits remarkable analogies 
with the arrangement of Rhizopoda; Thalassicollida representing 
naked Rhizopoda, the horny sponges having a certain correspondence 
with Arcellina—those with Silicious spicula being the analogues of 
Polyeystina, and those with Caleareous spicula of Foraminifera. Did 
our space permit, we should endeavour to ascertain the proper arrange- 
ment of Infusoria also, being well convinced, that all other informa- 
tion is in a great degree thrown away, if not connected with an 
intelligible system, and that methods which are necessarily only 
provisional and in which we may be sensible of great defects, are yet 
far preferable to any attempts at communicating anatomical, physi- 
ological, or descriptive matter independently of systems, which never 
carry the student beyond insulated facts, and barren, because uncon- 
nected observations. 
Although Professor Greene may not exactly see these things in 
the same light that we do, we are by no means insensible to the 
merits of his book. The Introduction is excellent and useful, and 
its extent can hardly deter the idlest reader. His accounts of the 
low, and generally mimute organisms of which he treats are highly 
interesting, and cannot fail to diffuse information, and lead to the 
increase of knowledge, by enlisting a host of new inquirers. The pro- 
prietors of the series have done their part well, and their first number 
holds out a favourable promise for those which are to follow; if 
what is more important is not sacrificed to over-anxiety after com- 
pression. W. H. 
The Old Glaciers of Switzerland and North Wales. By A. C. 
- Ramsay, F.R.S. and G.S. London: Printed by Spottiswood and 
Co. 1859. 
Amongst the various records of a by-gone condition of things 
presented by Nature’s archives to the interpretation of the geologist, 
few can compete in interest, and perhaps in difficulty of solution, 
