256 Notices of Books. [April, 



and even British forms, as for instance the sub-alpine Primula 

 farinosa, and the celery, Apium graveolens, though Dr. Cunning- 

 ham confirms the observation of Dr. Hooker that the latter loses 

 in Patagonia the acrid pungency which is characteristic of the 

 wild European plant, and becomes mild and agreeable to the 

 palate. The illustrations, on stone, add much to the value of 

 the work, which is a very interesting record of conscientious 

 zoological and botanical labour. 



The Students' Elements of Geology. By Sir Charles Lyell, 

 Bart., F.R.S., Author of " The Principles of Geology," " The 

 Antiquity of Man," &c. With more than 600 Illustrations 

 on Wood. London: John Murray, Albemarle Street, 1871. 



In 1830, 1832, and 1833 appeared the first edition of "The 

 Principles of Geology," in three volumes, comprising a fourth 

 book, " in which some account was given of systematic geology, 

 and in which the principal rocks composing the earth's crust and 

 their organic remains were described." This fourth book re- 

 mained a portion of the original work, "The Principles," up to 

 the fifth edition, published in 1837, but was omitted in the following 

 edition, and published by itself in an enlarged form in 1838, 

 under the title of " Elements of Geology." It was subsequently 

 re-cast and enlarged again, and then published in 185 1, under the 

 designation of "A Manual of Elementary Geology." After six 

 editions of " The Elements," or " Manual," has been sold, it has 

 seemed good to Sir Charles Lyell again to alter the name of his 

 work, and he now gives forth to the world " The Students' 

 Elements of Geology," which is really the original " Elements " re- 

 written, put into a more compact form, and better adapted to the 

 beginner of the science. By alterations of type and shape, the 

 book is made more handy for frequent reference, whilst space is 

 gained by omitting discussions on theoretical matters, and in 

 some cases by a diminution of the size of the woodcuts. These 

 curtailments, however, are certainly counterbalanced by the 

 addition of new matter, for in place of 520 woodcuts, the new 

 edition contains 636, and for every page of disquisition omitted, 

 certainly a page and a half of new facts is added. 



It is, indeed, unnecessary for us at the present time to recom- 

 mend any work of Sir Charles Lyell's, still less one so thoroughly 

 well known as "The Elements." We need only say that the 

 present edition is specially designed for the student. 



Professor Huxley, in speaking of the obligations that the 

 present generation are under to various geological writers of the 

 uniformitarian school, speaks especially of the debt that we owe 

 to Hutton, Playfair, and Lyell; but that, whilst the highly valu- 

 able works of the two former are read by but few in the present 

 day, that every page of the latter writer is thumbed by all who 



