REVIEWS. 



279 



labours, fleartily in this beautiful summer-time do we wish Snowdon many 

 visitors, and Professor Ramsay's book many readers. 



The Geological Kvaminator. By David Page, P.G.S. London and Edin- 

 burgh : Blackwood and Sons. 



The general excellency of Mr. Page's educational books on geology entitles 

 any new production from his pen to just consideration. If Mr. Page's last 

 work on geological term.s contained many errors and some omissions, it was 

 not to be expected that in a subject so fuU of difficulties a first attempt should 

 prove perfect ; but Mr. Page is too careful and pains-taking an author not to 

 avoid a repetition of these casualties in a second edition. 



The " Geological Examinator" before us is a little pamphlet of forty pages, 

 usefuUy filled with generally well selected questions, designed chiefly for the 

 use of teachers in frammg their periodical examinations. They are adapted also 

 as an aid for students desirous of acquhing a sufficient proficiency in the 

 science for such general examinations. 



To the mere student, self-educating himself in the history of our earth, this 

 useful category presents a succinct epitome of geological science ; and if he 

 attempts without reference to his books to answer this series of questions, he 

 will perceive for himself what he has acquired and what he has still to attain 

 before he can regard himself as worthy of being called a geologist. 



The RocJcs of Worcestershire. By Geoege E. Bobehts. London : J. Masters, 



Aldersgate-street. 



Our readers are acquamted with Mr. Boberts' pretty style of writing, from 

 the several attractive communications which from time to time he has con- 

 tributed to this journal. In this geological history of " Tiie Rocks of 

 Worcestershire" we have a conversational book of much merit and origin- 

 ality. We are introduced at the outset to three important personages— 

 Granitia, Siluria, Triassia — who meet in the arbour of a friend, Hospes, 

 whose acquaintance we thus also make. There these personages narrate 

 what they have to tell us of the past and present condition of that portion 

 of our globe- which now bears the denomination of Worcestershire, while 

 Hospes, who is a good listener, puts in an occasional inquiry of very sensible 

 character. 



As a rule we dislike dialogues in books, as tending to make them either 

 heavy or puerile ; but we must say Mr. Roberts has very well managed to 

 keep' up the vivacity and vigour of the narrations throughout, and has rather 

 skilfully made the plan of conversational difference subservient to keeping dis- 

 tinct those topics into which he has divided his work. 



Granitia is a fiery, impetuous personage, caring most for the majestic aspect 

 of the rocks and mountains ; Siluria finds his pleasure in studying their fossil 

 remains; while Triassia- has tales to tell of the natural productions now 

 living upon their surfaces. Hospes, as we have before said, listens; 

 and by his interrogations not only represents to some degree theoretical 

 speculations, but keeps his three scientific friends down to the mark of popular 

 explanation. 



Granitia first speaks of the physical rise of the globe, and of the oldest rocks 

 exposed in the comity ; Siluria follovv^s with a description of their characters, 

 relating also what remains of former animals they contain ; while Triassia tells 



