Review of Recent Geological Literature. 349 
two such contemporaneous rocks can be. We would suggest here that 
perhaps the "Eastern sandstone" is not represented by this interslieeted 
trap-and-sandstone formation, but rather by the other "younger sand- 
stone" which is said to contain debris from the traps and from the older 
sandstone It is quite possible that this intersheeted sandstone and 
trap formation is really the basal member of the Holyoke, representing 
the Pewabic sandstone of Minnesota. That may explain the con- 
trariety of the conclusions reached by Brooks and Purapelly and Irving, 
as compared with those of Wadsworth. 
There is a chapter by Drs. Lane and Hubbard on certain minerals, 
others by Drs. Lane and Patton on certain peculiar rocks and their mi- 
croscopic characters. 
The report as a whole Is refreshing, for it indicates an earnest at- 
tempt to treat the geology of the state of Michigan according to the 
new methods, which are as different and as much better than the old 
"Huronian" methods as the principles of William Smith were superior 
to the floundering efforts of his predecessors. There are some notions 
in the report which we cannot accept, based sometimes on erroneous, 
preconceived ideas and sometimes apparently on bad observation. But 
it must be granted that this, being the first report of the present or- 
ganization, should be allowed the privilege of making some mistakes, 
and should be given the opportunity of correcting them in later state- 
ments when longer study shall have shown where they are. 
Seventeenth report of the Department of Oeology and Natural Re- 
sources, Indiana. — S. S. Gokby, State geologist, Indianapolis, pp. 705, 
20 plates of fossils. Octavo, 1892. With a geological map of the state, 
which shows, besides the surface distribution of the formations, the lo- 
cation of various economic industries, viz.: Stone quarries, natural gas 
areas, natural gas wells, oil areas, gas pipe lines and oil pipe lines. 
Where the drift prevails the map is left blank. 
The activities and responsibilities of the state geologist were extend- 
ed by law in 1891 so as to include the appointment and supervision of 
the following ofificers who make reports to him, viz.: Inspector of 
mines, Supervisor of oils, and Supervisor of Natural Gas. The reports 
of these officers make the volume largely economical, but it also in- 
cludes a chapter by S. A. Miller which describes and Illustrates more 
than 150 new species of fossils. It also has catalogues of the butterflies 
and of the batrachians and reptiles of the state. 
Prehistoric America; The Mound Builders, their works and relics- 
Stephen D. Pekt, Chicago, The American Antiquarian, 1892. 8vo, 
pp. 376. Numerous figures and plates. 
The author of this volume has been editor of the American Antiqua- 
rian for many years, and is one of the best known of American antiqua- 
ries. He has had ample opportunity to become qualified to produce a 
thorough work on the Mound Builders, with such consideration of col- 
lateral subjects as easily present themselves in studying that mysterious 
people. Mr. Peet prefaces his discussion of the Mound Builders with a 
