88 
[January, 
NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
The Border Lands of Geology and History : an In augural 
Address. By T. W. Kingsmill. Delivered at Shanghai 
on the 20th of February, 1877. Shanghai : Kelly and 
Walsh. London : Trtibner and Co. 
Whilst the facfts generally summed up under the name of 
“ glaciation ” are admitted by every one fairly competent to form 
an opinion, there is no such happy accord concerning the cause 
assigned to these phenomena — the so-called “ Glacial epoch.” 
What were its causes ? Did it occur once only, or repeatedly ? 
Was the whole globe simultaneously attacked, or were the 
northern and southern hemispheres glaciated alternately ? 
Was there an “ ice-cap ” extending regularly and uninterrupt- 
edly down from the poles to comparatively low latitudes, and 
obliterating every natural feature ? Or did the glaciers, as in 
our day, though on an intensified scale, take an independent 
origin in the mountain chains, and move sometimes not from, 
but towards, the poles ? On all these main questions, and on 
many collateral points, geologists of the highest merit disagree, 
and a controversy has been for some years going on. This dis- 
cussion may be pronounced most fruitful, since it necessitates a 
more minute and searching appeal to facts than would otherwise 
have been undertaken. Some of the results of this appeal are 
very remarkable. The conclusion that in Europe and North 
America glaciation has prevailed is not in the least shaken, but 
rather confirmed. The evidence on which the late Agassiz in- 
ferred that even equatorial Brazil once suffered from this inva- 
sion of ice stands, indeed, in need of corroboration. But the 
proofs of glaciation found by Mr. Belt in Central America, and 
even at comparatively low altitudes above the sea-level, leave 
exceedingly little room for doubt. The question, however, natu- 
rally suggests itself— What about Asia ? If the northern hemi- 
sphere has at any time been glaciated as a whole — whether 
simultaneously with the southern hemisphere or independently 
is a matter of no importance — North China, Mongolia, and 
Mantchuria ought to show the usual traces of the visitation. 
“ Yet in no part of Eastern Asia do we hear of phenomena 
indicating a Glacial period.” Mr. Belt, than whom no more 
competent observer could be named, has examined the regions 
between Ekaterinburg and the head-waters of the Irtish, lat. 
5 1° to 55 0 N. and long. 6o° to 76" E., “ a situation which, according 
to usually-received glacial theories, should have been extensively 
glaciated.” But from his description the author sees no proof 
