Review of Recent Geological Literature. 
245 
ice surface there is 4,900 to 5,150 feet, or nearly one mile, above the sea; 
and the nunatak summits vary in height from 5,200 to 5,650 feet.” The 
bearing of the distribution of the 770 species of arctic phsenogams, listed 
by Sir Joseph Hooker, on the former changes of configuration of the 
land and water, is another point in which the studies and results of the 
botanist possess great value for the geologist. Prof. Asa Gray, quoted 
by our author (on page 201), has pointed out that the flora of Greenland 
is largely European, while that of Labrador and the west coast of Davis 
strait is mainly American, indicating the very ancient date of this deep 
water channel between the two lands. This chapter, and all that follow, 
excepting the final one, are Mr. Upham’s contribution to the work. 
A condensed account of the animal life of Greenland, and a sketch of 
the various attempts to explore the vast, desolate, interior expanse of 
ice and snow, conclude the descriptive portion of the volume; and the 
remainder consists of a discussion on the relations of the present glacia¬ 
tion of Greenland with the Pleistocene glacial geology of this continent 
and of Europe. 
In the latter portion Mr. Upham has summed up most of the evidence 
recently gathered from many sources on the disputed questions con¬ 
nected with the causes, stages or epochs, and duration of the Ice age-. 
This is not the place for entering on any statement of the special doc¬ 
trines advocated^. Mr. Upham’s views were already known by glacial- 
ists, and will here reach the wide range of general readers. Suffice it to 
say that the summary presented is well put together and fairly bal¬ 
anced. In the last chapter Prof. Wright reviews this discussion, mainly 
agreeing with it, but attributing perhaps a larger share of the climatic 
conditions of the Ice age to changes of the oceanic circulation, acting 
conjointly with great elevation of the lands which became ice-envel¬ 
oped. 
The work is very readable and of much general interest. It is well 
and fully illustrated with excellent photographic views, which give a 
clearer idea of the scenery and surroundings of the localities visited 
than long written descriptions could do. The remarks on the natives 
and their conditions of life are dispassionate and prudent. Professor 
Wright recognizes the unwisdom of attempting to introduce European 
ways of living in that inhospitable clime, and admits that if men live 
there at all they must live nearly as do the Eskimos. Any civilization 
of a much higher grade is impossible when the struggle for existence is 
so severe as to lead to practices like some which he describes. They 
show a direct conflict between the instinct of preservation of the tribe 
and that of natural affection. e. w. c. 
Unter-Tertiare Selachier aus Sildrussland. By Dr. Otto Jaekel. 
(Memoires du Comite Geologique, vol. ix, no. 4, pp. 1-35, 1895.) In this 
paper Dr. Jaekel describes a number of selachian remains from the 
Lower and Middle Oligocene of two provinces in South Russia. The 
material is chiefly interesting on account of the limited number of forms 
occurring in these deposits, and the certainty of referring to one and the 
