Notices of Books . 
[April, 
264 
The chapter on the “ Sea and its Work ” is illustrated by a 
capital sedlion of the Atlantic between Sandy Hook and Ber- 
muda, in which the soundings are given at short intervals, the 
temperatures, and the position and dimensions of the Gulf 
Stream. Here, also (p. 182), we find a chart of the estuary of 
the Thames between the Nore and Margate. The account of 
volcanoes and earthquakes includes geysers, and is illustrated by 
a representation of the Beehim Geyser of Yellowstone Park, 
Colorado, which throws jets of hot water to a height of 200 feet. 
It is said that there are no less than 10,000 hot springs, geysers, 
and hot lakes within the area of Yellowstone Park. 
The slow movements of the land (Chapter XIII.) are shown to 
be altogether more important than the sudden paroxysmal 
changes produced by earthquakes. The best-known example of 
such changes within the memory of man is perhaps to be found 
at Puzzuoli, where the land near the Temple of Serapis appears 
to be sinking at the rate of one inch in every four years. This 
occurs in the midst of a volcanic district ; but in Scandinavia, 
a country peculiarly free from earthquakes, we have positive 
proof of similar slow changes. The northern part of the penin- 
sula is rising, while the southern part appears to be undergoing 
depression. Evidences of similar changes are not wanting in 
some parts of Great Britain. 
A long chapter (XIV.) is devoted to “ Living Matter, and the 
Effedts of its Activity on the Distribution of Terrestrial Solids, 
Fluids, and Gases. Deposits formed by the Remains of Plants.” 
Herein it is shown that the gaseous and liquid constituents of 
the earth are being constantly reduced to the solid form, either 
temporarily or permanently, by living matter. Prof. Huxley ob- 
jects to the term organic matter, “ because all forms of living 
matter cannot be stridtly said to be organised.” Vegetable life 
is traced up from its most primitive beginnings, by a gradual 
process of evolution, until it attains full perfection, and then 
passes to decay. The same is done with animal life, com- 
mencing with the egg ; and the analogy between the growth of 
the plant and of the animal is shown. Then the principal fossil 
vegetable forms are described, and the formation of the coal- 
measures. The whole of this chapter is treated in an original 
and highly suggestive style. A natural continuation leads, in 
Chapter XV., to the formation of land by animai agencies, such 
as “ Coral Land,” and (Chapter XVI.) “ Foraminiferal Land.” 
The latter embraces an account of some of the deep-sea sound- 
ings of the Challenger, the bed of the Atlantic, and globigerina- 
ooze. 
Since at the commencement of the volume we find an account 
of the surface configuration of the Valley of the Thames — that 
river being chosen for the reason stated above — it is appropriate 
that now the geological structure of the Thames basin should 
be discussed (Chapter XVII.) : this is accompanied by a geolo- 
