260 GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY. 



(Hist. Chap. 121), saying 'that the Indians, -when they saw the bishop, Don F 

 Geronimo Loayza, asked if he were the Huaca of the Christians.' " 



We have spoken of Mr. Birch's work as a book of reference, and 

 such is its real charactei'. In it we have a somewhat unornate, (except- 

 ing in pictorial illustration,) and unseductive pair of volumes ; but sub- 

 stantial, thorough, and nearly exhaustive, in their brief condensation 

 of an amount of learning and research, enough to expand into 

 whole libraries of modern popular literature. A thousand suggestive 

 hints supply material which might have been expanded into singu- 

 larily attractive pages. The colloquies, exclamatory phrases, addresses 

 to purchaser or spectator, and frolicsome or sarcastic Iambi of the 

 potter'.s inscription^, abound with interesting illustrations to the 

 classical scholar. Again the modern fabrications are scarcely less 

 curious, such as that engraved by Brondsted and Stackelberg, in a fit 

 of archaeological irony ; and gravely reproduced by the credulous 

 Inghirami as a genuine antique. A modern antiquary appears run- 

 ning after a draped female figure called 'l>HMH, or " Fame," who flies 

 from him, exclaiming : EKA2 HAI KAAE : " Be ofi" my fine fellow !" 

 But the author's purpose was to produce a substantially useful, not a 

 popular book, and in this he has fully succeeded. The references, 

 moreover, are equally various and minute ; and will doubtless guide 

 many a laborer on the same prolific theme, to authorities, of which, but 

 for the accuracy and the honesty of the author of this "History of 

 Ancient Pottery," they would never have known the existence. But 

 such writers, though they may supplement, illustrate, and paraphrase 

 our author, — beating out his sterling ingots into acres of leaf for 

 purposes of showy and superficial gilding, — cannot supersede Mr. 

 Birch's " History " as an authoritative book of reference for all who 

 appreciate the historical value of the art of the potter. 



D. W. 



SCIENTIFIC AND LITERARY NOTES, 



GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY. 



GEOLOGICAL SUEVBT OF CANADA. 



The R.eportof Progress for the years 1853-54-55-56, of Sir "W. Logan and his 

 able colleagues, has at length been issued. The publication of the separate 

 Reports for each of these years was unavoidably postponed until the present time, 

 in consequence of Sir William Logan's manifold engagements in connexion with 



