204 Miscellanies. 



DOMESTIC. 



1. Fossil Shells of the Tertiary Formations of JVorth America^ 

 illustrated by figures drawn on stone, from nature; by T. A. Con- 

 KAD, Philad. 1832. — A work of this kind has long been a desidera- 

 tum to geologists, and we have now the pleasure to announce the 

 publication* of the first number, with six plates illustrative of twenty- 

 three species of American tertiary fossils. The style and spirit in 

 which this work is commenced give great promise of future useful- 

 ness : the plates are lithographed by the best artists, and the figures 

 are drawn with such clearness and elegance, as will enable even the 

 learner to detect their character with facility. 



" The beauty, variety, and peculiar character of our Tertiary Fos- 

 sils," says the author, " are such as to recommend them to the mere 

 Conchologist ; but when viewed in connexion with Geological phe- 

 nomena, they will prove, in consequence of their vast extent and 

 continuous beds, even more important than the most celebrated con- 

 temporaneous deposits in Europe." 



The three great divisions of the Tertiary class, viz. the upper ma- 

 rine, London clay and plastic clay formations are all now positively 

 identified in this country by their organic remains, of which Mr. 

 Conrad is already in possession of about two hundred and fifty spe- 

 cies. Of these, the upper marine beds furnish a large proportion ; 

 the London clay, (or, as Mr. Conrad terms it, the middle tertiary,) 

 also affords a profusion of fossils, although hitherto but very partially 

 explored on this continent. The plastic clay, on the contrary, is as 

 yet characterized by few and imperfect species. 



Mr. Conrad's Introduction gives us a brief but clear view of all 

 these formations, — their mineralogical and organic characters, and 

 geographical distribution, accompanied by various novel details which 

 cannot fail to attract attention wherever geology is appreciated. It 

 is designed to figure all the species of Tertiary shells ; and the pres- 

 ent number contains six species of Area, two of Pectunculus, eight 

 of Fusiis, three of Buccinum, a Murex, a Cypricardia, a Cardita, and 

 an Artemis. 



The value of Mr. Conrad's work is much enhanced by the fact, 

 that it is the result of personal observations made during several 

 tours through the formations he describes ; and he has announced 



* By Mr. J. Dobson, Chesnut Street, Philadelphia'. 



