REVIEWS. 
65 
doubtful. Heliopora, the type of the Ilelioporidae, has been proved by Mr. 
Moseley to belong not to the Zoantharia, but to the Alcyonaria, and it carries 
with it the fossil Heliolites, with which, on the other hand, the ‘ Chain 
Corals * (Halysitidae), the Tetradiidae, and the Theciidse, and, perhaps, also a 
portion of the Chaetetidae, are considered by Professor Nicholson to be nearly 
allied, so that the members of these groups will probably have to be placed 
among the Alcyonarian polypes, or occupy a position on the boundary line 
between the two great groups of Actinozoa. The curious Silurian genus, 
Labechia, has apparently baffled all the efforts of our author to give it a 
‘ local habitation ’ in the system. The genus Aulopora and its allies, con- 
stituting Milne-Edwards’ sub-order of Zoantharia Tubulosa, are noticed by 
Professor Nicholson as having been considered to be founded upon young 
colonies of Syringopora , an opinion in which he does not share ; but he 
abstains from assigning them to any definite place in the system. 
It will be seen from the preceding statements that our author is inclined 
altogether to abolish the Tabulate Corals as a group ; and further, that in 
some cases he is not inclined to accept the family groups proposed by his 
predecessors. The portion of his book, following the summary of general 
systematic results, from which the f oregoing particulars have been derived, is 
devoted to the detailed description of the Palaeozoic genera and many species 
constituting the different groups formerly referred to the sub-order. It is 
impossible to overlook the many signs of the most careful work displayed 
in this portion of Dr. Nicholson’s book ; and although, as we have seen, he is 
compelled by the very nature of the objects of his study to leave many points 
in a state of uncertainty, which, indeed, may perhaps never be cleared up, 
he may certainly ‘ lay the flattering unction to his soul ’ that in his present 
volume he has made our knowledge of these puzzling organisms take a great 
step forward. 
In the matter of illustrations, also, we are here in a condition of magnifi- 
cent luxury. Scattered through the text are numerous woodcuts, some of 
them the same as those illustrating the chapter on Fossil Corals in the 
author’s Manual, others original and prepared specially for the present work, 
but all excellent. In addition to these, we have fifteen beautifully executed 
plates, exhibiting magnified sections and other details of the Corals described. 
The figures on these plates, like those on wood, are all from the author’s 
drawings, and reproduced by Mr. Berjeau, upon whom they certainly reflect 
the greatest credit. 
I N Frozen Asia we have an extremely interesting account of a country 
with which most of us are entirely unacquainted ; and Mr. Eden has 
supplied a brief, but in its way very complete sketch of this territory. 
After giving in the first two chapters some account of the geographical 
* Frozen Asia ; a Sketch of Modern Siberia ; Together with an Account 
j of the Native Tribes inhabiting that Region. Bv Charles II. Eden, 
F.R.G.S. 8vo. London. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. 
1879. 
NEW SERIES, VOL. IV. NO. XIII. 
SIBERIA* 
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