REVIEWS. 



Edinbuegh's Place in Scientific Progeess. Prepared for 

 the Edinburgh Meeting of the British Association by the Local 

 Editorial Committee, pp. 263. W. & R. Chambers, Ltd.,: 

 Edinburgh and London, 1921. Price 6s. net. 

 rpHIS rpcord of Edinburgh's contributions to science is something; 

 -*-• very much more than the usual type of British Association 

 Handbook.^ Written by twenty-five difierent authors, each of whom, 

 is a specialist in his own branch of knowledge, this work should be- 

 of paramount value as a history of the influence of the Scottish 

 capital upon scientific advancement. The article on geology is by 

 Messrs. E. B. Bailey and D. Tait, of H.M. Geological Survey of 

 Scotland, and it contains an admirable record of the continuity of 

 geological thought as shown especially in the important part played, 

 by Edinburgh men in the developmental progress of the subject 

 from the seventeenth century down to our own time. Beginning, 

 with a reference to Sinclar and his Short Histonj of Coal, published 

 in 1672, the authors proceed to the consideration of the life and 

 work of James Hutton, the writer of The Theory of the Earth, about, 

 which so much controversy centred. This brings them to Playfair and 

 Hall, Hutton's distinguished supporters, and to Jameson, the local 

 representative of the opposing Wernerian school, all three of whom, 

 were Edinburgh men. Among the other famous geologists whose 

 work is alluded to are Williams, Fleming, Paterson, Hugh Miller, 

 and Edward Forbes. The authors have made no attempt to bring, 

 their history uniformly up-to-date, but we are glad to see that they 

 have not altogether omitted the work of the later geologists,, 

 including some who are happily still living. We have no space for 

 a review of the other articles, but reference must be made to 

 Mr. Stewart's account of the oil-shale industry, and Sir William 

 Herdman's article on modern oceanography, of which subject 

 he justly remarks that Edinburgh is its birthplace and its home. 

 ^ F. H. A. M. 



Life in a Sussex Windmill, with some Amenities op the South 

 Downs. By Edwaed A. Maetin, F.G.S. pp. 118, with 

 illustrations. Allen & Donaldson, Ltd., London, 1921. Price 

 65. net. 



fpHIS book contains a pleasantly written account of life in a 

 -^ disused windmill, where the author took up his abode for a 

 season in order that he might write and think in peaceful retirement. 

 A good deal of the matter, without being original, is of interest to- 

 the geologist, and there are chapters on the " Eight Downland 

 Quadrilaterals", the " Dry Coombes and Bournes of the Downs ", 

 " Ancient Man on the Downs ", and " Sussex Coal, Iron, and 

 Wood ". Perhaps, however, the most interesting chapter is one 

 " About Dewponds ", on which the author has made a number of 



