122 Revieios — Prof. SnWs Physical Geology of Ireland. 



admirable Physical Geology and Geography of. Great Britain, by 

 Prof. Earasay, had reached its third edition, and had been entirely 

 remodelled ; while North Britain could point with just pride to 

 Geikie's interesting Geology and Scenery of Scotland. True the 

 detailed map of Griffith, and the many reductions of, and improve- 

 ments on it, which have resulted, formed in themselves excellent, 

 and to a large extent sufficient, guides to a knowledge of the general 

 structure of a country, essentially so simple as that of Ireland. 

 And we have no doubt some feeling of this kind, and a desire that 

 one who had already done so much for the Geology of Ireland, 

 should, if he himself wish it, have the opportunity of making 

 that country still more his own kingdom, by adding to his map a 

 general description, kept several from attempting a task for which 

 they felt their old master and guide was so vastly more competent 

 than the}'. But whatever the cause, it has been reserved for Prof. 

 Hull to supply this want in the little volume now before us. 



Like all contributions of the author, the work is carefully com- 

 piled, and is a singularly full though much compressed statement 

 of facts, given in the simplest language, with, we rejoice to say, 

 very few attempts at oratorical effects, or fine writing. It thus 

 carries with it the conviction of truth and sincerity which we are 

 always disposed to concede at once to a simple and full exposition of 

 facts : it is, in reality, so essentially dependent for its conclusions on 

 the abundance of its details, that no single or hasty reading will 

 suffice to the student.^ 



The author presupposes, wisely, we think, an acquaintance with 

 the elementary principles of the Science of Geology on the part 

 of his readers, and, therefore, passes at once to an enumeration of 

 the various formations which occur in Ireland, the extent and 

 position of the areas they occupy, and their mutual relations. To 

 the discussion of these questions the first of the three parts into 

 which the book is divided, is given. This is also by a good deal the 

 longest and most detailed division, occupying 116 pages. The 

 Physical Geography occupies the second part (pp. 117-210) ; and the 

 third part (pp. 211-272) is devoted to the ' Glaciation of Ireland.' 



A general summary of observations over a wide area, so as to 

 give a comprehensive idea of the relative structure and history of 

 the different points, offers no fitting opportunity for the detailed 

 discussion of any special views, or the exposition of any novel 

 speculation, and we shall therefore better elucidate our author's 

 work by a very brief resume of the information given, than in any 

 other way. 



1 "With this fullness and care, we notice also scTeral things which convey to our 

 mind a distinct impression that the work has heen hastily written and too hastily 

 printed. There are errors of grammar, errors and confusion in the spelling of 

 names, and phrases and idioms which, though perhaps intelligible, are certainly not 

 elegant, which a very little more care and time would have avoided. We notice 

 these little defects at once, not as wishing to convey the idea that the real value of 

 the work is diminished hy such blemishes, but because we feel confident that a 

 second edition will soon be called for, and we would gladly see even these little blots 

 polished out. 



