62 



Revieivs and Book Notices. 



Ores in Veins. These are further sub-divided into chapters, and each 

 subject seems to be \'ery exhaustively and thoroughly dealt with. There 

 are also 154 illustrations (without the portrait), which help to make his 

 points clearer. A perusal of the book leaves one with the impression 

 that what Mr. Symons does not know about ores and veins and lodes 

 and vadose solutions, and the ' oneness ' of rocks is not worth knowing. 

 The book would ha\"e been much improved in appearance if some less 

 funereal type had been used for numbering of the pages, and if a much 

 ■greater margin had been allowed. But then perhaps the author would 

 not ha\-e been able to say : — 



' Go little book, from this my solitude ! 



I cast thee on the waters — go thy ways ; 

 And if, as I believe, thy vein is good, 



The world will find thee after many days.' 



The Geology of Coal and Coal = Mining, by Walcot Gibson, D.Sc, 

 F.G.S. London : Edward Arnold. 341 pp., 7/6 net. 



This volume is the first of a series of works on economic geology by 

 experienced geologists ; and if the rest in any way approaches the present 

 ■one in the excellence of its matter, the clearness of its style, and the wealth 

 of its illustrations, it will indeed be a magnificent series. Dr. Gibson's 

 •extensive experience in the British and South African Coalfields enables 

 him to speak first-hand on the various questions discussed ; consequently 

 the volume has a much greater proportion of original matter than would 

 otherwise have been the case. After an introductory chapter, the author 

 deals in detail with the varieties of coal, the chemical and physical char- 

 acters ; coal as a rock, its formation and origin, distribution ; fossils as 

 zonal indices, studies of exposed and concealed coalfields, etc. He then 



Glossopteris browniana Brongt. (Reduced). 



deals with the principal coalfields of Britain, and next refers at some length 

 to the coalfields of various parts of the world. Perhaps one of the most 

 important, as well as the most interesting parts of the book is that dealing 

 with the value of fossils as zonal indices. Too much stress cannot possibly 

 be attached to this side of the subject. Dr. Gibson's field-work enables 

 him to speak with more than usual emphasis as to the value of zonal 

 fossils, and his remarks on this subject should be read, marked, learned, 

 and inwardly digested by every geologist, mining engineer, as well as by 

 the increasingly large number of monied gentry who have an interest 

 in coal which is other than scientific. This chapter is profusely illustrated 

 by photographs, etc., of typical fossils. There is also a very good index. 

 The publishers kindly enable us to reproduce one of the illustrations 

 herewith. 



Naturalist, 



