360 Reviews — Miikr's and Skertchly's Fenlands. 



A singular illustration is afforded, in the Somme Valley itself, of 

 the comparatively recent occurrence of phenomena similar in appear- 

 ance to those of prehistoric times. M. de Mercey has described a 

 deposit superimposed on the (Celtic) peat, comprising, first, brick- 

 earth with fragments of Eoman pottery and land-shells, having at 

 its base a few pebbles and marine shells, and, lying over it, a bed 

 of river-gravel. If authentic, the events and changes thus indicated 

 must have all occurred since the days of Julius Caesar. On the 

 other hand we have Mr. Belt, in the current Quarterly Journal of 

 Science, treating the valley-gravels as pre-glacial. 



Dr. Southall relies on the conclusions of Professor Andrews re- 

 specting the positive age of the remarkable terraces in the river 

 valleys of North America, and on Professor Whichell's calculation 

 on the Falls of St. Anthony, recently brought before the Geological 

 Society of London. The author's conclusion seems to be that the 

 present surface phenomena are principally of glacial and sub-glacial 

 age, in the Northern hemisphere, and cannot be carried back fur- 

 ther than about 7000 years, and that land -ice, with all its incidents, 

 lingered in Northern Europe long after the cessation of the Glacial 

 Period proper. 



Dr. Southall's volume is not without the liveliness which the 

 advocacy of a particular hypothesis gives ; indeed the spirit of 

 the Advocate is oft-times far too prominent ; evidence being admitted 

 and conclusions based thereoQ, without sufficient regard for the 

 reliability of the witnesses cited. It hardly accords with the 

 caution expressed in the preface : — " It is a question which should 

 be decided apart from all theological prepossessions, and in no 

 way prejudiced by any supposed interpretations of a biblical reve- 

 lation on the subject. It is purely as a question of science that I 

 propose to discuss it ; and if we arrive at a conclusion out of 

 harmony with religion let it be squarely recognized, and let the 

 adjustment constitute a separate task." P. 



II. — The Fenlanb — Past and Present. By Samuel H. Miller, 

 F.E.A.S., etc., and Sydney B. J. Skertchly, F.G.S. Eoyal 

 8vo. pp. 649, with a map, and 27 plates. (1878 : Wisbech, 

 Leach & Son ; London, Longmans, & Co.) 



IN the Geological Magazine for May last, we called attention to 

 a Geological Survey Memoir on "The Geology of the Fenland," 

 by Mr. Skertchly. We have now much pleasure in announcing the 

 publication of the handsome and beautifully illustrated work whose 

 title is given above. This work, which contains nearly twice the 

 amount of material, printed on superior paper, and in far better type, 

 than the Survey Memoir, with excellent illustrations, is issued to sub- 

 scribers at less than half the cost of the Government publication, 

 and even its published price of 31s. &d. contrasts very favourably 

 with the enormous (almost prohibitive) charges now put upon the 

 Survey works by H. M. Stationery Office. 



This new work on the Fenland is an exhaustive treatise on the 

 Archaeology and Natural History of the district. In the Geological 



