Jan. 13, 1888.] 



SCIENTIFIC NEAVS. 



39 



REVIEWS. 



j1 Sketch of Geological History, being the Natural History 

 of the Earth, and of its Pre-human Inhabitants. By 

 Edward Hull, M.A., LL.D., F.R.S., Director of the 

 Geological Survey of Ireland. (London : C. W. 

 Deacon and Co.) 



Professor Hull, in this work, fills up what has been 

 hitherto a gap in our scientific literature. We have had 

 many original treatises and memoirs on special depart- 

 ments of geology ; we have manuals and text-books not a 

 few, but a compendious view of the main facts of the 

 science, surveyed in historical succession, has hitherto 

 been wanting. 



We find here a condensed account of the history of our 

 globe from the archsean or azoic age on to the appear- 

 ance of man. The author, as it will be noted, touches 

 but slightly upon hypothetical and controversial matter, 

 confining himself to established facts. In speaking of 

 the earlier condition of the crust of the earth, he notices 

 that the Himalayas are still probably undergoing a move- 

 ment of elevation sufficient to counterbalance the effects 

 of denudation. As regards the internal temperature of 

 the globe, he quotes the recent conclusion of Prof. 

 Prestwich that the mean rate of increase is i " Fahr. 

 for every 47, feet in depth. He reminds us that in the 

 earlier epochs certain forms of terrestrial activity must 

 have been more intense than at present. The tides, in 

 consequence of the greater proximity of the moon, may 

 have been ten times as high as they are at present. 

 Owing to the higher temperature evaporation would be 

 more rapid and rainfall more abundant, whence erosion 

 would be greater and the distribution of sediments far 

 more extensive than we now witness. We note, not 

 without satisfaction, that Prof. Hull, in accordance with 

 Mobius, regards the Eozoon canadense of Prof Sir 

 W. Dawson as a purely inorganic formation. 



Though distinctly an evolutionist, our author holds, 

 with Charles Darwin, that we have, as yet, no natural ex- 

 planation of the first appearance of life upon our globe, 

 but must refer it to Divine intervention. 



In the account of the principal coal-fields of the world, 

 we find no mention of those of South Africa, which 

 appear to be more important than those of the European 

 continent. 



The " glacial epoch " is duly described, but Prof Hull 

 expresses no opinion as to its causes. 



The first appearance of man upon our globe is treated 

 as an open question, though his existence in Miocene 

 times is regarded as improbable, or at least as unproven. 



The inrush of northern animals into Africa during 

 the glacial epoch, and the extirpation of its original 

 fauna — which now survives merely in Madagascar and 

 the adjacent islands — is described in accordance with the 

 views of Wallace. But of the three causeways along 

 which this immigration may have been effected, viz., 

 land joining Gibraltar to Africa, a similar connection 

 between Sicily and Tunis, and the Isthmus of Suez, we 

 must venture to throw some doubt upon the last. It 

 seems not unlikely that the Red Sea was in connection 

 with the Mediterranean until a later date. A valuable 

 feature of this work is formed by the accounts of the 

 probable distribution of land and water at different 

 points of geological time. This book is one which ought 

 to be read by every person who lays claim to a fair 

 general education. 



The Young Collector's Handbook of Ants, Bees, Dragon 

 Flies, Earwigs, Crickets, and Flies. By W. H. Bath. 

 (London : Swan Sonnenschein, Lowrey and Co.) 



The author of this little book points out the immense 

 advantages which the collecting of insects, shells, etc., 

 has over amassing postage-stamps, crests, or other 

 objects, which have no organic connection, and which 

 can teach their owner nothing. Still, we do not at all 

 wish to see the number of collectors of insects, etc., 

 multiplied, unless they make collecting merely the basis 

 for study and observation. 



Boys who get together a considerable number of speci- 

 mens, and in a short time let them go to ruin, often con- 

 tribute no little to the extirpation of some of our finest 

 species, and are, no less than is the bird-fancier, perfect 

 abominations to the true naturalist. We are glad that 

 Mr. Bath calls attention to the " neglected orders " of 

 insects, in which there is, of course, very much to be 

 done. At the same time we cannot agree with him when 

 he says that " any one who wishes to commence the study 

 of the Lepidoptera and Coleoptera will have to work very 

 hard indeed before he can hope to put anything new on 

 record concerning them." Of course, in the meagre 

 fauna of Britain the prospect of discovering any new 

 species is very slender. But there is an almost infinite 

 amount of work needed before we understand their 

 structure, their senses, their mental faculties, their mutual 

 relations. And there is always the possibility that the 

 young naturalist may settle in, or at least visit, countries 

 whose fauna is richer and less known than that of our 

 islands. 



The descriptions of the various groups and of the few 

 species mentioned, though necessarily very brief, are 

 accurate. A few typographical errors occur ; thus, on 

 p. 23 we find Bembicidae for Bembicidce, and on p. 63 

 Forficesita for Forficesila. 



We are glad to find attention drawn to the utility of 

 some little-known species, such as the lace- winged flies 

 {Chrysopa vulgaris') and the "hover fly" [Syrphus pyrastri), 

 both of which are great devourers of aphides, and deserve 

 our protection. In speaking of the ignoble group, 

 Pediculidae, the author indulges in an expression which 

 savours of vulgarity. He writes, " those found on niggers 

 (sic) are black, and those on Europeans are whitish." 



The book will form a very useful gift for boys 

 placed where the study and observation of insects is 

 possible. 



Weather. A Popular Exposition of the Nature of Weather 

 Changes from Day to Day. By the Hon. Ralph 

 Abercromby, F.R.M.S., etc. London: Kegan Paul, 

 Trench and Co. 



This book forms Vol. lix. of the International Scien- 

 tific Series, and is not only well worthy of taking its 

 place among the other textbooks, but will be found to be 

 of more general interest to the public than many of its 

 fellows. We are told that many books have been 

 written on storms and climate, but no attempt has been 

 made to lay down the broad principles of the science of 

 weather as a whole. The book consists of two parts, 

 elementary and advanced. The latter part might have 

 been divided into British and Foreign, as the latter pre- 

 sent differences in many im.portant characteristics of 

 climate, which need hardly concern any one desiring to 

 study the meteorology of this countrj'. 



We are glad to see that some attention is paid to 



