332 



THE GEOLOGIST, 



REVIEWS. 



Illustrated Index of British Shells, contaiJiing figures of all the recent species, 

 with names and other information. By G. B. Sowerby, E.L.S. London : 

 Simpkin, Marshall and Co., 1859. 



Tlie magnificent work on British shells by Mr. Hanley and the late Professor 

 Porbes, must remain, for a long time at least, the standard book on British 

 moUusca. Its price, amounting to some pounds, however, is a barrier to its 

 being more extensively accessible, whUe there are thousands of inquirinj^ minds 

 who desire some reliaUe source from which, by comparison of the shells they 

 find with some good figure, they can at least recognize a species, and thus find 

 some firm foundation on which to continue their investigations. Such a source 

 is Mr. Sowerby's book, although it is little more than an illustrated catalogue 

 of our native shells. The figures are very good, and appear to be original 

 representations of properly selected specimens ; no slight consideration, for our 

 attention has been often drawn to the evil effects of the practice of copying 

 from other plates, in presenting false ideas, by depaitures from the original and 

 proper outlines of the object thus occasioned, the errors of the draughts- 

 man, often rendering the determination of species difficult and obscure, and 

 otherwise impeding the progress of science. We rejoice that Mr. Sowerby's 

 book has passed well through our scrutiny on this point, and that we can con- 

 sistently wish it the extensive sale it merits. 



Advanced Text Booh of Geology, Descriptive and Lidustrial. By David Page, 

 F.G.S. Second edition, revised and enlarged. London and Edinburgh : 

 William Blackwood and Son. 1859. 



This treatise, the first edition of which, so well known, is reported to have 

 sold to the extent of twenty thousand copies, was designed as a sequel to the 

 author's " Introductory Text Book," although it has been prepared in such a 

 manner as to stand also as a separate and independent work. The latter or 

 introductory work gives an outline of the science intelligible to beginners, and 

 sufficient for a general acquaintance with its leading facts ; that under notice, 

 or the "Advanced Text Book," presents the subject more in detail, and is "in- 

 tended for senior pupils and those who desire to prosecute the study in its 

 principles as well as deductions." 



The author's views are good of a right system of teaching ; and no geological 

 book for scholastic purposes in the English language surpasses Mr. Page's in 

 this respect ; nor is the carefulness displayed in the correctness of the general 

 material of the work to be passed over without laudatory comment. 



This second edition has been enlarged, " firstly, to embrace whatever is new 

 and important in the science ; secondly, to afford space for additional illustra- 

 tion ; and thirdly, to combine, as far as possible, the principles with the de- 

 ductions of the geology." 



This additional matter is ordinarily given " in subordinate type and in such a 

 form as not to interfere with the continuity of the original textual arrange- 

 ment." So far so good ; and the matter thus introduced is certainly not with- 

 out much value, but we caution against increasing the dimensions of a Text 

 Book. It is, in our opinion, dangerous both to its practical and to its pecuniary 

 success ; while it is desirable for its attractiveness to the student — no mean 

 consideration — to restrain it within the most moderate limits. 



