Rei'ieics — B. B. Woodward — Handbook of Fosnis. 277 



foregoing by decomposition, and (5) small quantities of erratic 

 material variously derived. The fossils appear to belong to recent 

 forms. W. J. M. 



VI. — California State Mining Bureau. 



THEOUGH the courtesy of Mr. Henry G. Hanks, State Mineralo- 

 gist, we have received a copy of the Fourth Annual Eeport on 

 California, which he has prepared for the year ending May 15, 1884. 

 This report deals with information, general and statistical, in relation 

 to the Agricultural, Commercial, Manufacturing, and other resources, 

 interests, and industries of the State. The chief part of the work 

 is, however, devoted to a Catalogue and Description of the 

 " Minerals " of California as far as known, with special reference to 

 those having an economic value. This Catalogue contains material 

 of much general as well as scientific interest. Thus in reference to 

 Petroleum, there are accounts of its different forms, of what the 

 ancients knew about it, and of its early history, origin, and uses. 

 Coal is noticed under the heading " Mineral Coal," which includes 

 Lignite, Anthracite, lonite, etc. lonite is a hydro-carbon mineral 

 found in lone Valley. Considerable space is naturally devoted to 

 Gold, its properties, alloys, chemistry, and geology, as well to the 

 history of its discovery. Ii'on, Quicksilver, Copper, Lead, and 

 Silver are among the more abundant metals. Chromite, including 

 accounts of chrome ores and chrome steel, and Iridium are noticed. 

 Diamonds also are mentioned, and an account is given of Diatoma- 

 ceous Earth, with notes on its localities and uses, and a list of the 

 Diatoms found in it. There are also interesting notices of Borax, 

 of Lime, Building Stones, of Clays, together with accounts of brick 

 manufacture and notes on Ceramic art. Under the heading of 

 Sulphur, we find accounts of its uses, its metallurgy, of the mines 

 and works, of consumption and supply, etc. ; and under the heading 

 Quartz, there are notes on the Amethyst, Buhr Millstone, False 

 Topaz, " Quartz Jewelry," Glass and Glass making in California. 



H. B. W. 



VII. — The Young Collector's Handbook of Fossils. By Bernard 

 B. Woodward, F.G.S. Pp. 32. Price Id. (London : Swan 

 Sonnenschein & Co.) 



THIS concise and carefully-prepared little work contains notes on 

 the principal formations represented in England and Wales, 

 with a few illustrations of the fossils ; and also remarks on the 

 method that should be followed in collecting and arranging specimens. 

 It is written by one who is evidently an enthusiastic Naturalist, and 

 it is therefore calculated to awaken the interest of those who have 

 not previously devoted attention to geology. The exceedingly low 

 price is likely to ensure for the work an extended circulation, and 

 perhaps the question of cost may have influenced the author in 

 omitting from his " Works of Reference " the important Text-Book 

 of Geology by Dr. A. Geikie, of which a second edition is just 

 announced. 



