218 Notices respecting New Books. 



book. Oue of these also exhibits the authors' fondness for " com- 

 fortable words" from tongues not generally understood by the 

 vulgar, as it is entitled Thalassa and Xera in the Permian Period. 

 "We are doubtless glad to learn that Messrs. King and Powney 

 understand Greek, or at any rate know enough of it to use au 

 English-Greek lexicon ; but we fail to see why, in this matter, plain 

 English would not have equally well expressed their meaning. 



The work is illustrated by nine plates and some woodcuts. The 

 latter are only diagrammatic ; the former are far from well executed. 

 Whether this is the fault of the authors or of their lithographers 

 we are, of course, unable to decide ; we may, however, say that in 

 other cases where we have found our leaning (to which we confess) 

 towards the organic origin of Eozoon somewhat shaken by their 

 assertions and arguments, we have felt our faith is refreshed by 

 turning to their illustrations, which represent structures, like those 

 upon which Dr. Halm* has lately expended so much pains, which 

 to our eyes have only a rough general resemblance to those unques- 

 tionably organic, or claimed as such, in the best specimens of Eozoon. 



The book, we may add, is not well edited. A long list of corri- 

 genda is given ; and there are several other mistakes which have 

 altogether escaped the authors' notice. Some are no doubt merely 

 printer's errors ; but others are sufficiently grave to show a want of 

 due care in passing the work through the press. 



"We do not purpose in our present notice to enter into the vexed 

 question of the nature of Eozoon canadense, further than to say 

 that the present work contains a very full statement of the authors' 

 reasons for believing it to be only a mineral structure ; and a large 

 amount of curious and instructive matter is brought together which 

 deserves to be well considered by those who incline to the other 

 view. 



"We pass on, then, to some questions of a more general nature 

 raised by the present work. First, as to the classification of 

 ophites in the opening chapter, which is " offered indeed," as they 

 state, " more for practical purposes than as being a natural one, 

 though it is not altogether devoid of the last character." It is as 

 follows : — 



A. Silacid Ophites. 

 Serpentinytes. 



Talc schist, Pensselaeryte (potstone). 

 Sepiolytes, Magneso-argillyte ("Argille magnesienne," Delesse). 



* In reference to this we may, in passing, note a paragraph in the 

 American journal 'Science,' which states (vol. ii. p. 410) that Dr. Hahn 

 exhibited his slides to Mr. C. Darwin, who had no sooner " peered through 

 the microscope on one of the finest specimens, when he started up from 

 his seat and exclaimed 'Almighty God ! what a wonderful discovery ! 

 wonderful ! ' and after a pause of silent reflection he added, ' Xow reaches 

 life down ! ' " A story so circumstantial oue would think must needs he 

 true; but we have the best authority for characterizing it as simply 

 fabulous. 



