REVIEWS. 



167 



Prof. Owen stated that, from the evidences afforded by the photographs, he finds 

 the dentition of this upper jaw to consist of three incisors and five molars on 

 each side, of which the first appears to be a premolar and the rest true 



molars, thus, i. ^Z!, c. !!Z^, p. m.^Ht ; agreeing, in this formula, with Macroput 

 and Diprotodofi, The modifications of this dentition resemble those of the latter 

 genus in the retention of the premolar, after the last true molar has come into its 

 place, and in the superior size of the first, as compared with the second and third 

 incisors. He then described in detail the sockets of the incisors, and the form 

 and conditions of the molar teeth, which are highly characteristic of the marsu- 

 piality of this huge and most strange extinct quadruped. The cranial characters 

 which were next described, equally elucidate this aflSnity. The peculiar facial 

 bones were then described in detail ; that portion in advance of the orbits forming, 

 as it were, a short pendunculate appendage to the rest of the skull, increasing in 

 a remarkable manner in both vertical and lateral extent as it approaches the muzzle, 

 but not offering any evidence of having borne a nasal horn, as thought to be pro- 

 bable by Mr. Macleay. The cavity of the nose is divided by a bony septum — a 

 character which Prof. Owen has lately found to exist also in a rare species of living 

 Wombat — to a much greater extent than in other known marsupials. Wholly 

 concurring in Mr. Macleay 's conclusions as to the marsupial nature of the fossil 

 in question. Prof. Owen does not think that it exhibits evidences of a generic 

 distinction from Diprotodon. The Professor suggested, however, that probably the 

 lower jaw, when found, may show some peculiarities of dentition and proportions 

 similar to those on which he has founded the genus Notothcrium. 



Meetings of Field Clubs. — Three of the West of England Natural History 

 Field Clubs have arranged to meet at Ledbury, Herefordshire, on the 3rd of June 

 — viz. , the Herefordshire (Woolhope). the AVorcestershire, and the Malvern. In- 

 vitations will also be sent to the Field Clubs of Gloucestershire (the Cotswold), 

 Warwickshire, and Tyne Side. 



REVIEWS. 



Geology made Easy, or the Old and New World. By H. Smith Evans. 

 London : Read & Co. Small 4to. 



Two kinds of books there are which should ever be written as well as possible, 

 but of one of these kinds we have an abundance in which the rule is not followed. 

 We confess we never took up a book with kinder feelings towards it than we did 

 the little yellow-covered work before us : we liked its appearance and we 

 liked the title, "Geology made Easy," and we even overlooked the error in 

 its secondary title, and good-naturedly mistook the flourish for an S. We 

 saw at a glance clearly printed pages, modest looking lithographs, and an accumu- 

 lation of what appeared to be facts, and we sat down to read it through in the 

 expectation of being thoroughly delighted. Inaccurate in language — subjected, we 

 should think, to no revision through the press — and with statements most 

 loosely and incorrectly made ; we put the book down with a feeling of actual pain. 

 With repetitions of such blunders as " stratums ''and " modules," with " trebolite," 

 and other instances of mis-spelling, impossible to reconcile even with the phonetic 

 system, — with facts so oddly stated, as one, for instance, in the table of intensity of 

 winds, where a brisk gale of fifteen miles an hour is called pleasant and one 

 of twenty miles an hour " very ditto," with others so much at variance with what 

 geology teaches us, as that at page 70, where we are informed of the probability of 



