311 
REVIEW S. 
Mantell's Wonders of Gcoloyy." Edited by T. RurEUT Jones, F.G.S. London : 
Bohn. 
When a book passes tbrougli six editions, and llic public buy eagerly of the 
seveutb, it must be a work of real merit. But when this demand happens long 
after the death of its first author, when the revision of his labours has fallen into 
other and younger hands, there must be as much credit due to the skill and 
talent of the succeeding editor as to the original inditer; especially when, as 
in the present case, the work appears brought up to the last point of information 
and existing knowledge, and stands confessedly a better book than ever. 
The le;t popular books of a science must be few, but Mr. Rupert Jones' Edition 
of the " Wonders of Geology " stands in the first rank. 
The two most known and widely circulated of Dr. Mantell's works were the 
" Wonders of Geology" and the "Medals of Creation," the former taking the 
strata in succession, with their characteristic fossils, and the latter constructed 
in accordance with the relations of the fossil organic remains, or in natural 
history series. 
The "Wonders" was the firat really popular book on (ieology printed in 
England. Some more or less successful attempts had been made by Mr. Bakcwell 
and others — but Mantell's " Wonders " stood pre-eminently the book of its 
day. How well it has held its own in the powerful rivalry of the splendid labours 
of Sir Chas. Lyell, and of those other excellent books of Phillips, Ansted, &c., is 
evidenced by that meritorious badge of honour contained on the title page — " 7tli 
edition." 
To the new matter added by Mr. Rupert Jones we have already alluded, but 
it would be unjust not to make more special mention of some of these additions, 
so important as to give almost a new character to the work. 
Not only have the scientific terms and words in the glossary received more correct 
definition, but throughout there is manifested a material improvement in this respect 
— and this is not a slight one. We have placed before us the new Tertiary nomen- 
clature of Prcstwicli and the late Edw. Forbes, with the most recent determi- 
nations of the English Tertiary strata in their relations to each other and to foreign 
types, and more philosophical views of their history and formation, especially in 
respect to the Woolwich and Isle of Wight deposits. Again, a much moi'e compre- 
hensive view is taken of the Wealden beds in this than in any other of the former 
editions which issued under the direct supervision of Dr. Mantell himself, who, it 
is well known, dwelt rather too strongly aud too exclusively on the fluvintile con- 
ditions of that group ; while now, the semi-marine characters of some of the 
members of this group are very properly brought forward, aud their due 
importance assigned to them. 
Much in regard to the Purbeck beds was accomplished by the late Professor E. 
Forbes; and more recently the extensive excavations of Mr. S. II. Bcckles have 
added many new animals to our previous lists. The essence of these labours is 
concisely added in the pages before us. 
Then, throughout the work, the nomenclature of the fossils is vastly improved, 
and far more attention paid to the actual value of the natural groups or organisms 
in their classification. Terms arc restricted to their pMper meaning; and thus, 
