Bo?ie Caves in JVew Holland. — New Publications, 47 



Bone Caves in JVew Holland. — An interesting discovery has been 

 made of osseous breccia and caves, about 210 miles v^est from 

 Sydney. Major Mitchell, Surveyor General of New South 

 Wales, has transmitted specimens and drav^dngs of them to the 

 Geological Society of London. The caves are in a limestone 

 formation, in Wellington Valley, and the bones were discovered 

 in an inferior chamber of one of the caves. The breccia is found 

 in the fissures of the limestone, consisting of bones imbedded in an 

 ochreous cement. A few of the bones belong to the dasyurus, 

 the rest to the kangaroo, wombat, koala, phalangista. All the 

 bones, with the exception of one, which appears to belong to some 

 large marine quadruped, are of the present races of animals found 

 in New Holland. 



From a consideration of all the circumstances connected with 

 this discovery, the following conclusions present themselves : — 



1st. That the caves are of that class first brought into notice 

 by the Rev. Dr. Buckland. 



2. That the osseous breccias of Gibraltar, Antibes, Nice, Na- 

 ples, Dalmatia, the island of Cerigo, &c. containing the remains of 

 animals of the same kind, are probably of the same age, and an 

 eflfect of the same cause, with the breccias of New Holland. 



3. That this unexpected agreement strengthens the diluvial 

 theory consequent upon elevation from below, and is opposed to 

 that which attempts to account for the modification of the earth's 

 surface by local causes. 



4. That the present order of nature in New Holland, is of a 

 great antiquity, and perhaps coeval with the insular position of 

 the territory. Editor. 



NEW PUBLICATIONS. 

 We take this opportunity of stating the conduct we shall observe respecting new- 

 publications. Any blandishments laid in our way to procure praise for works which 

 do not deserve it, will be thrown away upon us, as we shall never insert puffs of any 

 kind. To be upon the most friendly terms with Booksellers, is our interest, as well 

 as our inclination ; but it is to the public at large we look for efficient patronage, and 

 we are bound by every consideration to deal intelligently and fairly with it. On the 

 other hand, we shall be most happy, upon all occasions, to notice in a favourable 

 manner, works connected with the Study of Nature, which we have good reason to 

 believe are of sterUng value ; and in announcing the following, which are about to 

 appear, we cannot but express our satisfaction at such manifest evidences of the in- 

 creasing demand for works on the Natural Sciences. Editor. 



IN THE PRESS. 



The Animal Kingdom, arranged in conformity with its organization : by Baron 

 Cuvier, perpetual secretary to the Royal Academy of Sciences, &c. &c. &c. The 

 Crustacea, Arachnides, and Insecta, by P. A. Latreille, Member of the Royal 

 Academy of Sciences, &c, &c. &c. Translated from the French, with notes and 

 additions, by H. M'Murtrie, M. D. &c. &c. In four volumes 8vo,, with plates. 

 New York. G. & C. & H. Carville. 



Dr. M'Murtrie's translation of this great work is upon the eve of being published. 

 We intend, in a future number, after its publication, to speak of its great merits, to 



