228 Scientific Intelligence. 



Illinois). — Earlier bulletins of the Illinois Survey (Nos. 1 and 2) 

 were uoticecl on page 543 of volume xxii (Dec. 1906). The 

 present bulletin gives a preliminary account of the composition 

 and distribution of the Illinois coals called out by the many 

 demands for information on this subject. The coal fields of Illinois 

 are not only the most important mineral product of the state, 

 but include nearly 43,000 square miles, covering a larger area 

 than the coal fields in any other state. The production in 1905 

 was 38,000,000 tons, and the rate of production is so rapid that 

 it is calculated that in another quarter of a century the annual 

 production will be some 135,000,000 tons. Special facts in 

 regard to the distribution of the coal beds are given in a chapter 

 by A. Bement, while the chemical composition and character are 

 discussed in detail by S. W. Parr. 



6. Postglacial Faults of Eastern New •York ; by J. B. Wood- 

 worth. New York State Museum bulletin 107, Geological Papers. 

 New York State Education Department. Pp. 28, pis. 5, figs. 8, 1907. 

 — Professor Wood worth has studied a number of areas on the east- 

 tern side of the Hudson Valley which exhibit steeply dipping 

 step-faults of a reversed character upon which the movements 

 are of postglacial age, the eastern side having risen with respect 

 to the west. One fault zone aggregated 13 - 00 inches of move- 

 ment in 1T67 feet and others somewhat less. When the rarity 

 of exposure of such faults is considered, it is to be concluded that 

 a far greater number in reality exist and the importance of these 

 movements becomes apparent. Some discussion of Postglacial 

 faults of Quebec, New Brunswick and Massachusetts is also 

 given. j. b. 



7. Lunar and Hawaiian Physical Features Compared ; by 

 William H. Pickering. Memoirs of the American Academy, 

 Vol. xiii, pp. 151-178, pis. 16. 1906. — In this interesting paper 

 Professor Pickering gives the results of his studies on the forms 

 of the Hawaiian craters, made in 1905, with the object of com- 

 paring them with the lunar craters, noting resemblances and dif- 

 ferences. The Hawaiian craters, unique upon the earth, appear 

 to bear more resemblances to those of the moon than do the 

 usual terrestrial volcanoes, suggesting the origin of most lunar 

 craters by rise and fall of a central lava column with caving in 

 and engulfment of the walls. Amid much that is valuable, how- 

 ever, it must be noted that, on page 152, hypotheses of origin for 

 the larger craters and the Maria, which at best are founded upon 

 slender evidence and are opposed by very great theoretical phys- 

 ical difficulties, are stated without qualification as facts. Further, 

 on pages 175, 176, it is stated that "rills" and valleys are be- 

 lieved by the writer to be due to water erosion, and ridges, it 

 is thought, may be lateral moraines. Numerous spots which 

 increase in size and darken during the progress of the lunar day 

 are believed to be due to vegetation. The reviewer would sug- 

 gest, however, in view of the impossibility of observing minute 

 details in the lunar features and the very slight resemblance at 



