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BOOK NOTICES. 

 Proceedings of the Chester Society of Natural Science. No. 3. 



Chester, 1885, 8vo, 133 pages and nine plates. Price 2s. 6d. 

 It is a pleasure to be able to congratulate a local society upon the production 

 of work of" the stamp of the part now before us, and the pleasure is enhanced in 

 this case by the fact that the publication is strictly confined to l'ocal work. The 

 papers in the present part are fifteen in number, and embrace a varied range of 

 subject. The president of the society (Prof. T. McKenny Hughes) leads off with 

 ' Notes on the Geology of the Vale of Clwyd,' which are illustrated by means of 

 eight plates. This is followed by a lecture on ' The Denudations of North Wales,' 

 by Mr. Aubrey„Strahan, M.A., F.G.S., and this again by the abstract of a paper en- 

 titled 'A Problem for Cheshire Geologists,' by Prof. John W. Judd, F.R.S. 

 The next paper is by Mr. D. Mackintosh, F.G.S., upon ' Traces of an Interglacial 

 Land-Surface at Crewe.' Mr. W. Shone, F.G.S., then investigates 'The Silting 

 up of the Dee: its Cause,' after which Mr. A. O. Walker, F.L.S., discusses the 

 'Climatic Causes affecting the distribution of Lepidoptera in Great Britain,' 

 pointing out that the diminution of the number of species is N. W. rather than N., 

 and attributing a large amount of unfavourable influence to an abnormally damp 

 climate. The same writer gives a useful list of the ' Macro-lepidoptera of the 

 Chester District,' for which the Diurni number 37, the Sphingina 18, the 

 Bombycina 56, the Noctuina 184, the Geometrina 165, and the Pyralidina 69, 

 making a total of 529 species. There is yet another paper by Mr. Walker, in 

 which ' The. Climate of the Chester District (including Denbighshire and Flint- 

 shire), [is] considered in relation to Fruit Growing.' The succeeding paper is by 

 the Scientific Secretary of the society, Dr. H. Stolterfoth, M.A., who deals with 

 ' Surface Dredging on the Dee,' and notices the various forms of life met with. 

 A 'Note on Glauconome disticha, from the Bala Beds of Glyn Ceiriog,' by 

 Mr. George W. Shrubsole, is of interest to palaeontologists, and ' A List of the 

 Land and Freshwater Shells of the District,' by the same writer, equally so to 

 conchologists, although the latter list would be improved by a more copious cita- 

 tion of localities or definition of range and habitat. Another palseontological paper 

 from Mr. Shrubsole's pen is 'On the Occurrence of Calcisphcera (Williamson) in the 

 Mountain" Limestone of the Eglwyseg Rocks, near Llangollen,' and he chronicles 

 the failure of an attempt at acclimatisation in a note ' On the Occurrence of Venus 

 mercenaria (L.) in the Estuary of the Dee.' Next follows a ' List of Caradoc or 

 Bala Fossils found in the Neighbourhood of Bala, Corwen, and Glyn Ceiriog,' by 

 Mr. Thomas Ruddy, of Pale, Corwen, which is given in a succinct and tabulated 

 form. The last paper in the part is by Mr. J. D. Siddall, upon 'The American 

 Water Weed, Anacharis alsinastrum Bab.: its Structure and Habit; with some 

 Notes on its introduction into Great Britain, and the causes affecting its rapid 

 spread at first and apparent present diminution,' and is illustrated by a plate. The 

 whole of the papers are of high interest and of much value, and we congratulate 

 the society upon so creditable a volume, and still more so that they resist the 

 temptation to print papers which have no relation to the area of their investigations. 



The Vertebrate Fauna of Sutherlandshire.— By T. E. Buckley, 



B.A., F.Z.S., &c, and J. A. Harvie Brown, F.R.S.E., F.Z.S., &c. Being 

 an appendix to Saint John's Tour in Sutherland, new edition, pp. 291-374. 

 This is one of the most important and useful papers of its kind that we have 

 seen, and affords a fit model for anyone who feels impelled to construct a local 

 catalogue. The thoroughness with which it is done, the care and detailed accuracy 

 with which the records are given, the adequacy with which the introductory matter 

 is framed so as to afford the reader a clear comprehension of the physical aspects 

 and general appearance of the county as a field for natural history observation, all 

 entitle the work to our warmest praise. So also does the copious list of the books 

 and memoranda which constitute the ' sources of information,' and the fact that it 

 is a ' vertebrate ' fauna, the mammals, reptiles, and fishes receiving their fair share 

 of attention instead of the customary neglect. The authors -divide the county 

 between them, Mr. Buckley being responsible for the eastern, and Mr. Harvie 

 Brown for the western portion of the county, the high road from Lairg to Tongue 

 serving as the line of demarcation. To descend to details, the list includes 



Feb. 1886. 



