364 Reviews — Dr. H. Lnnsdell — Russian Central Asia. 



than of any other form of bird, yet it differs in certain particulars 

 from every genus with which it has been possible to compare it, and 

 seems to represent an entirely new tyj)e. According to the researches 

 of Dr. Victor Lemoine, Gastornis, in other parts of its organization, 

 shows Eatite affinities. At present the median portion of the 

 sternum is unknown ; but the small size of the wings, in some 

 species at least, leads one to expect that it will prove to be without 

 a keel, and thus show a further resemblance to the Ratitge. 



la IE V I IE ^W S. 



I. — EussiAN Central Asia, including Kuldja, Bokhara, Khiva, 

 AND Merv. By Henry Lansdell, D.D. Two volumes. (Lon- 

 don : Sampson Low & Co., 1885.) 



IN these interesting volumes, describing a long and somewhat 

 adventurous journey. Dr. Lansdell incidentally imparts to his 

 readers a considerable amount of information on the Geology of 

 Turkestan and some other parts of Central Asia, obtained partly by 

 personal observation, partly by careful comj)ilation from books and 

 papers in languages other than English. The author's route from 

 Sergiopol to the valley of the Hi, and thence to Chimkeut, ran in a 

 general south-westerly direction. Near the first-named place he 

 notes the occurrence of coal and graphite. Mesozoic and Tertiary 

 rocks, from Triassic upwards, are then traversed, until on attaining 

 higher ground Palaeozoic and Metamorphic rocks are reached. 

 The mountain ranges forming the huge massif of the Thian Shan are 

 said to be largely composed of metamorphic and of various igneous 

 rocks. Beyond the Ili the base of a chain composed of Palgeozoic 

 rocks with granite is skirted, and about Chimkeut many valuable 

 minerals are found, such as rock salt and coal, besides iron, lead, 

 silver, and even gold in workable quantities. 



Not the least interesting part of the work is the author's descrip- 

 tion of the region south of the Sea of Aral from western Bokhara 

 to the Caspian, the scene of some of the latest advances of Eussia 

 towards " the gates of India." Except for ulterior purposes, this 

 enlargement of her empire does not seem one that need be envied. 

 The region, as a whole, is singularly barren ; not seldom a waste of 

 shifting sands, among which the rivers lose themselves — thin beds, 

 quite dry, or occupied only by shrunken streams, are frequently 

 encountered, and Dr. Lansdell more than once calls attention to 

 the impression, produced on his mind by the scenery, that he was 

 travelling along the bed of a desiccated sea. At the present time 

 he states that the Sea of Aral — many parts of which are extremely 

 shallow — is distinctly drying up, and the effect of this on the country 

 is very well described from the author's personal observation. 

 His course for some 300 miles was down the Amu or Oxus, and he 

 enters upon an interesting discussion as to the former variability of 

 course of this river and the diversion of its waters from the Aral to 

 the Caspian. 



