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BOOK NOTICES. 



The Geology of Holderness and the adjoining parts of 

 Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.— By Clement Reid, F.G.S. (Memoirs 

 of the Geological Survey of England and Wales). 8vo, 170 pp., with wood- 

 cuts and a plate of charts. 

 This memoir is a most valuable contribution to the Glacial and Post-glacial 

 geology of the country, and will be a useful work of reference for local geologists. 

 After a preliminary chapter on the origin and physical features of the district, the 

 author proceeds to describe the ' Basement ' Boulder-Clay, and to give a resume of 

 the discoveries of the fossiliferous patches known as the 'Bridlington Crag.' 

 With reference to the latter, he adopts Mr. Lamplugh's view, that these shell- 

 bearing masses have been bodily transported to their present position. The 

 Boulder-Clays above the Basement Clay are described together, being; scarcely 

 distinguishable and not always separable ; the red colour and absence of chalk in 

 some parts are ascribed to the effects of weathering. Chapter IV is devoted to 

 the Stratified Glacial Beds, and chapters V and VI to the Interglacial beds, 

 including the Mammaliferous Gravels of Bridlington and Hessle, and the 

 Marine Gravels. of Kelsey Hill, etc.; of these full descriptions are given, with 

 lists of fossils. Chapters VII and VIII treat of the Post-glacial deposits, 

 especially of the ancient meres. The next chapter, headed ' Changes now in 

 progress,' summarises the evidence for the rapid waste of the Holderness coast, 

 which averages about 2% yards yearly. The last chapter deals with Economic 

 Geology, and in two appendices are given the particulars of nearly 200 well -sections 

 and borings, and a list of 150 works bearing on the geology of the district. The 

 changes in .the Humber since 1684 are illustrated by charts. 



[List of] British Marine Shells, comprising those of the 

 Braehiopoda and Mollusca (Proper). 4 pp., printed for A. 

 Somerville, B.Sc, F.L.S., Glasgow, January 1886. (To be had of A. Sten- 

 house, bookseller, University Avenue, Glasgow, price 3d. each, or 2s. 6d. per 

 dozen, post free). 



A list of this kind was much wanted, and we cordially welcome the appearance 

 of the present one, which is well and clearly printed, and calculated to be very 

 useful. The arrangement is that of Jeffreys' 'British Conchology,' with additions 

 to 1885, and excluding three species which that author included in his book on the 

 strength of dead shells, viz.: — Area obliqua, Necera rostrata, and Torellia vestita. 

 There are certain other species omitted which Jeffreys (in his appendix) 

 recommended to be taken into the British lists. The deep-sea species of the 

 ' Lightning ' and ' Porcupine ' expeditions are also excluded. But these are none 

 of them strictly British species, unless British seas are to be taken as extending 

 into mid-ocean, and the species which Mr. Somerville includes are alone those 

 which are likely to fall into the hands of ordinary collectors. Mr. Somerville 

 includes varieties, distinguishing them by the use of smaller type, and we do not 

 think he is far wrong in discarding the use of the word ' var.' or letter 'v.' The 

 authorities are correctly given, and bracketed in accordance with the British 

 Association Rules. We would suggest that in future editions the author should 

 set back the names of the varieties, and also that the useless comma which is 

 interposed between the name of a species and the authority for it should be 

 omitted. 



Botanical Exchange Club of the British Isles.— Reports for 

 1883 and 1884, 8vo, pp. 83-100 and 101-120. 

 These two pamphlets comprise valuable information on the critical plants sent 

 in by the various members during the above years, and also lists of many new 

 county records. The club is certainly doing good work, and no practical botanist 

 can fail to be instructed with the very careful criticisms on the many doubtful 

 plants that have been sent in, especially as the critics are themselves well-known 

 field-botanists. The remarks on the Rubi and Rosa: are particularly interesting 

 and consoling to those who have had the satisfaction (?) of labouring at these 

 groups, and we shall look forward with interest to any future reports on the 



Naturalist, 



