9-i Scientific Intelligence. 



of one of James Hall's most distinguished pupils. Critics are 

 sparing nowadays in bestowing the terms monumental upon a 

 scientific treatise, the adjective so often savors of hyperbole ; 

 and yet in the present case it must be allowed that any less 

 superlative epithet would fail to denote the high character of 

 Dr. Clarke's magnum opus. Space is here lacking for an ade- 

 quate estimate of its contents, and the reviewer is perforce con- 

 lined to a general appreciation. 



The work is first of all a vast repository of information on a 

 singularly complex subject, embracing great wealth of detail. 

 To the practical student also, it commends itself as a digest in 

 which all the essential facts of its theme are collected, classified, 

 analyzed and interpreted with scrupulous exactness. Finally, 

 the net result is systematized with the critical poise and acumen 

 that mark the experienced investigator who brings to his task a 

 broad grasp of cosmic problems, and whose mental attitude has 

 been determined by the successful conquest of a large group of 

 nature's secrets. The book betokens all these qualities and more;' 

 for on the humanistic side one is delighted by the literary skill 

 with which the author handles his material, besides many a 

 brilliant discursus on manners, customs, history, scenery, of an 

 enchanting region. Naturally, as the title indicates, the chief 

 objective aims of the memoir consist in a presentation of the 

 essential features of the geology and paleontology of that time- 

 interval in the Paleozoic of eastern North America with which 

 our author is perhaps the most familiar, and on which he is 

 recognized at home and abroad as an accomplished master. 

 More particularly it deals with the origin and relations of the 

 Lower Devonian rocks of Gaspe peninsula, with an elaborate 

 discussion of their fossil remains, an investigation for which the 

 author's earlier researches on the Guelph and Naples faunas of 

 New York State served as a fitting prelude. 



This volume is the fruit of several years of thoughtful study 

 and patient effort, and it may be safely said that a work of this 

 kind will never be superseded. And yet, such are the manifold 

 resources and complexity of his material that the author assures 

 himself and his readers that "the facts here brought together are 

 but suggestions for further study of this fertile field." In this 

 connection there comes to mind a German saying : " Wir sind alle 

 Schuldnerunserer. Vorganger," for in speaking of earlier workers 

 Dr. Clarke pays a generous tribute to the memory of Logan, 

 Billings, Dawson and other pioneer heroes of the Canadian Sur- 

 vey. Of Sir William's Geology of Canada it is said : "To a 

 student of Gaspe geology, this is the compendium and guide." 

 And with reference to Palaeozoic JBossils we find this : " It is 

 our good fortune to be able to cite this work so frequently that 

 our pages may almost seem its memorial." Yet we fancy that 

 these twain explorers who handed along the torch are the very 

 ones who would be most surprised at the large increment of knowl- 

 edge and perfection of method that are signalized by the hand- 



