1870.] Geology and Palaeontology. 409 



which are unconformable to each other, the former (the Magdala 

 group) consisting of trachytes and dolerites, and the latter (the 

 Ashangi group) entirely composed of dolerites of great thickness and 

 bedded volcanic rocks, lavas, and ashes. Through this Trappean 

 series, near Bethor, not far from Magdala itself, the Jitta Eiver has 

 cut its way and now runs at a depth of 3500 feet, in a valley pro- 

 bably more than a mile in width. The sides are extremely steep, 

 often perpendicular. The beds on both sides appear exactly to cor- 

 respond. A well-marked river-terrace, half-way down, indicated on 

 both sides of the stream, records the fluviatile origin of the gorge. 

 Of all the grand scenery, says Mr Blanford, met with in Abyssinia, 

 none equalled this wonderful gorge. His descriptions remind one 

 of the Grand Canons of the Colorado Eiver. 4. " The Antalo lime- 

 stone " is of Oolitic age, and contains Ceromya similis, Trigonia 

 costata, and other characteristic fossils, reminding one strongly of 

 British forms. 5. " Adegrat sandstone," a massive formation, oc- 

 cupying a very extensive area in northern Tigre, and perhaps repre- 

 senting the coal-bearing rocks known to exist north-west of Lake 

 Dembea, but yielding no fossils. 6. Metamorphic rocks of various 

 mineral character, with a general north and south strike, due to 

 pre-existing cleavage. 



The author describes the scenery as being almost everywhere 

 most strikingly beautiful, now bold and romantic, now resembling 

 the undulating character of Western England. Some of the illus- 

 trations are very remarkable and striking, the plateau-like disposition 

 of the tops of all the hills reminding one strongly of the Sinaitic 

 peninsula, as if the same meteoric agencies had carved out the 

 valleys from an originally highly elevated, but unbroken plain. The 

 recent natural history part of the work is ably dealt with by Mr. 

 Blanford, and the book will well reward the zoologist, and even 

 the ordinary reader of travels. 



Several Geological Survey Memoirs have made their appearance 

 in the present quarter. From the Geological Survey of England 

 and "Wales we have, — ' A Memoir on the Geology of the Carboni- 

 ferous Limestone, Yoredale Kocks and Millstone Grit of North 

 Derbyshire and adjoining parts of Yorkshire,' by Messrs. A. H. 

 Green, C. Le Neve Foster, and J. K. Dakyns, with an Appendix on 

 the Fossils by B. Etheridge. Secondly, ' The Triassic and Per- 

 mian Bocks of the Midland Counties of England,' by Edward Hull, 

 F.B.S., &c. 



From the Indian Geological Survey we have Part I. vol. vii. 

 of the Memoirs, ' On the Yindhyan Series, as exhibited in the North- 

 western and Central Provinces of India,' by Frederick K. Mallet, 

 F.G.S. ; No. I. of Becords (1869), ' The Yalley of the Poorna Eiver, 

 West Berar,' by A. B. Wynne, F.G.S., &c. ; also Part I. vol. viii. of 

 the 'Becords of the Indian Survey for 1870.' In this last-men- 



