464 THE GEOLOGIST. 



fossils have been found ; but Miocene lignites are abundant in Italy. _ At 

 Sarzanello in Piedmont, six and a half feet of Miocene coal occurs. This is 

 used in the Sardinian steam-navy. At Castiani, in the Maremme, good lignite, 

 three feet four inches thick, is worked ; and at Monte Bamboli, also in Tuscany, 

 one bed four feet two inches, and another two feet thick, have long been in use. 

 —[Abstract of paper by W. P. Jends, Esq.]. 



REVIEWS. 



0)1 the Origin of Species Ijy Means of Natural Selection ; or the Preservation of 

 Favoured Species in tlie Struggle for Life. By Charles Darvvlj?, M.A. 

 London : John Murray. 1860, 



We could scarcely let this year pass away without some notice of a book 

 which at least will make 1860 remarkable in the annals of natural history 

 science. Whatever opinion may be entertained of the speculations on the 

 origin of species sketched out by ]Mr. DarwiiLin his introductory work to the 

 fuller and more explicit one he announces for some future day, there is no 

 doubt that in its onlirctv his theory is one which for many years to come must 

 receive the earnest attention of the scientific world ; for whether the law of 

 the necessity of organic variation and development as dependant on external 

 circumstances atlciidant on the general ''struggle for Hfe" be universal in 

 application or not, Mr. Darwin has at any rate opened out a new Tein of re- 

 ilcciiou and est igation which must be followed out until the new theory be 

 cither disproved or proved from its first causes to its final results. 



Nor must we be prevented from the true examination of its value and merit 

 by any previous prejudices, nor deterred by the objections and abuse of those 

 who arc ever ready to ailack new opinions on the old and ridiculous grounds 

 of a real or prctendctl dread of an antao-onism to Holy Scriptui-e, as if the 

 AVord was not based on the sure foundations of truth. " I must express my 

 detestation of tlic theory," says one opponent, "because of its unfiinchiug 

 materialism; because it deuotrs tl-e demoralized understandings of its advo- 

 cates. Look, too, at their credulity. AVhy Darwin actually believes that a 

 wlute bear, by being conlined to the slops of the Polar Sea might be turned 

 into ,1 wliale ; that a lemur might be turned into a bat ; that a three-toed tapir 

 might be the great-grandfatlier of a horse; or the progeny of an ass may have 

 gone back to a bnil'alo.'' Such, however, are mere verbosities, baseless asser- 

 tions, unwarranted attributions of irreligion and gross ironical misrepresenta- 

 tions of an author's writings, too transparent not to be seen through by the 

 wcll-yersed student of Nature. There is, however, a speciousness of appear- 

 ance in the positivcness of diction of this style of attack which misleads the 

 unrelloeting as the ilame allures unwary moths, and which often causes such 

 iutlated pomiiositics to be mistaken for 'acknowledged facts. Time was, and 

 not so lontc smee, cither, when fossils were enigmas even +o the learned ; when 

 thoughtful and sapient men discussed with heat of temper and with angry 

 tones M iuiher such organic remains of past creations embedded in the soil were 



