REVIEWS. 



115 



he strives to demonstrate that the volcanological theories of niodern geolo- 

 gists were anticipated by the early Greek authors. This work is entirely 

 written in the Greek language, with which Dr. Schvarcz seems more fami- 

 liar, we fear, than many of our most fervent labourers in Geology. " The 

 theory of Progressive Development was warmly adopted and sustained by 

 nearly ail the ancient naturalists." This is consolatory to those who be- 

 lieve with Professor De Morgan that " for a science to become respectable, 

 it is necessary that it should be founded by somebody whom nobody ever 

 heard of, and whose works nobody has ever read." It is impossible, how- 

 ever, that the classical writers could have been possessed of the funda- 

 mental truths of geology by any other method than an a priori guess. 

 We are positively afraid that if Dr. Schvarcz demonstrates that our pro- 

 gressive development theories are due to the comprehensive generalizations 

 of Empedocles, some of the less philosophical hypotheses of the nineteenth 

 century may also claim classical descent, and we cannot forget that Mr. 

 Gosse's 'Omphalos' was anticipated in the time of the author of ' Hudi- 

 bras.' However this may be, we cannot fail to render justice to the clas- 

 sical and geological acquirements of Dr. Schvarcz. He writes upon a 

 subject " nemine ardea trito solo," and with the exception of the late Pro- 

 fessor Lassault, and Englishmen are now proud to add Sir George Corne- 

 wall Lewis, no writer has hitherto ventured to discuss questions fraught 

 with such deep interest to the geologist, paleontologist, antiquarian, and 

 classicist. We cannot forbear remarking that the beauty of the paper and 

 typography of these voluminous Hungarian works, might do credit to 

 nations more famihar with scientific requirements. 



On the Tenhy IB one Caves. By a Pembrokeshire Eector. 

 London : Kent & Co, 



A small unpretentious pamphlet, containing a great many valuable facts 

 and suggestions, as the following extracts will show ; — 



" Among all the wonders that the prevailing study of the earth's con- 

 struction has brought to light, there is not one more striking than the 

 presence here in England of great quantities of the bones of wild animals, 

 known to inhabit tropical regions, which are found collected together in 

 certain natural caves. 



" At Tenby the fact appears in its most striking aspect ; for such caves 

 occur, and such bones have been obtained from them in Caldy Island. 

 Now to suppose that herds of elephants, and hippopotamij and families of 

 lions, tigers, and hyaenas, could have lived and been sustained on a small 

 island which is all but a mass of solid rock, is as impossible to imagine as 

 that all the human inhabitants of the earth should find room to dwell there 

 together. 



" Be the answer what it maj^", here, beyond all doubt, are the bones of 

 these creatures, taken from certain caves in Caldy Island, and in the main- 

 land ; some from ' the Oyle,' on a spur of the Hidgeway ; and quantities 

 from caves in Gower, and elsewhere. No less than 1100 horns of deer, 

 mostly shed horns, have been lately exhumed from one cave in Gow^er 

 only. 



" The first of these caves . . . was discovered about twenty years ago by 

 the quarrymen in blasting the cliff overhanging the sea on the north face 

 of the island. It had no external opening at that time apparent. The 

 walls were vertical, or nearly so ; the strata being . . . perpendicular to the 

 plane of the horizon. This cave was formed by a portion of the stratum, 

 of considerable thickness, having disappeared at the place. Both the walls 



