REVIEWS. 
279 
labours. ITciirlily in tliiH Ijcui iful siuinncr-fiinc do \vc wish Suowdou many 
visitors, and i'rol'cssor Ramsay's uo.^L- nuuiy readers. 
The Geological Examinator. By David P.\ge, F.G.S. Loudon and Edin- 
burgh : Bkickwood and Sons. 
The general cxeoUcncy 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 terms contained many errors and some omissions, it was 
not to be expected that in a subject so full of dilBcultics a first attempt should 
prove perfect ; but Mr. Page is too careful and pains-taking an author not to 
avoid a rejietition of these casualties in a second edition. 
The " Geological Examinator" before us is a little pam])hlet of forty pages, 
usefully iUled with generally well selected (piestions, designed chiefly for the 
use of teachers in framing their periodical examinations. They arc adapted also 
as an aid for students desirous of acquiring 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 cau regard himself as worthy of being called a geologist. 
The Rocks of Worceslersliire. By George E. Roberts. London : J. Masters, 
Aldcrsgate-strect. 
Our readers are aequamtcd with Mr. Roberts' pretty style of writing, from 
the several attractive eonnnunieations which from time to time he has con- 
tributed to this journal. lu this geologicid history of " The Rocks of 
Worcestershire" we have a conversational book of much merit and origin- 
ality. AYe are introduced at the outset to three important personages — • 
Granitia, Siluria, Triassia — who meet in the arboiu- of a friend, Ilospes, 
whose acquaintance we thus also nuike. 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 deuounnation of Worcestershii'e, while 
Hospes, who is a good listener, puts m 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 veiy well managed to 
keep' up the vivacity and vigour of the narrations throughout, and has ratlier 
skilfully made the plan of conversational dilferenee subservient to keeping dis- 
tinct those to]3ics into which he has divided his work. 
Granitia is a fiery, impetuous personage, caring most for the ma,jestic aspect 
of the rocks and mountains ; Siliuia finds his pleasure in studying their fossil 
remahis; while Triassia has tales to tell of the natm-al 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 liis thi-ee scientific friends do^^^l to the mark of popular 
explanation. 
Granitia first speaks of the physical rise of the globe, and of tlie oldest rocks 
exposed in the county; Siluria follows with a description of their characters, 
relating also what remains of former animals they contain ; while Triassia tells 
