518 Reviews — Miss Ey ton's Geology of North Shropshire. 



are described in detail wliich have been communicated by MM. Dru, 

 Laurent, and Degousse. Containing, as this volume does, so much, 

 valuable information and useful references, we cannot doubt that it 

 will be an acceptable work to all who take an interest in the pro- 

 gress of geology, and by whom we hope it will be favourably re- 

 ceived and consulted, as an encouragement to the authors to continue 

 their laborious researches. J. M. 



m. — Notes on the GtEologt of North Shropshire. By Charlotte 

 Eyton. London. 12mo. pp. 88. Eobert Hardwicke, 1869. 



MISS EYTON has produced a small, but very nice little book, on 

 the Greology of that part of her native county with which she 

 is most intimate, namely the neighbourhood of the Wrekin, and part 

 of the plain of North Shropshire. 



The district embraces Igneous and Metamorphic rocks of various 

 ages, the Cambrian rocks, the Silurian — both Upper and Lower — 

 the Carboniferous series, the Bunter Sandstone, the Trias, and, 

 scattered here and there. Glacial Drifts and other superficial deposits. 



" The change," writes Miss Eyton, " from the Silurian scenery on 

 the south bank of the Severn to that of the New Eed Sandstone on 

 the north, is very remarkable and characteristic. The ever- varying 

 outlines, the peaks and ridges, the ravines and glens of the former, 

 stand in striking contrast to the level plain, rarely diversified by an 

 outbreak of Igneous rock, which marks the extent of the latter. 

 And yet it is the same influence, acting upon a different surface, that 

 has produced both. The denuding agent (supposing it to act evenly 

 over the whole extent) which, working upon alternate beds of hard 

 and soft rock, forms corresponding alternations of ridge and furrow, 

 will, when moving over an uniform surface, presenting no weak 

 points and everywhere equally susceptible to its influence, produce 

 the effect of a perfectly level plain, removing the same proportion 

 of substance in every part, and smoothing and rounding all inequali- 

 ties that may previously have existed. The only agent which we 

 know of that does act thus evenly is the sea. The efi'ect of atmos- 

 pheric denudation is generally to cause uneven depressions and 

 furrows. Some of these exist in the plaia now under consideration, 

 but they are not of sufficient importance to break the general effect 

 of the outline above described." (p. 11.) 



In referring to the Coal Plants Miss Eyton laments that we do 

 not possess any good work on the subject since Lindley and Hutton. 

 She will be glad to learn that Mr. Carruthers, who has already so 

 much increased our knowledge of fossil plants, contemplates the 

 publication of a complete British Fossil Flora. In speaking of Mr. 

 Binney's discovery of the connection between Stigmarice (the 

 roots) and Sigillarm (the stems) found in the Coal-measures (p. 

 41, line 9 from foot of page). Miss Eyton has inadvertently 

 spoken of the former as being found wprigJit, instead of horizontal, 

 in the underclay. 



We do not think the theory of "an island, comprehending the 



