Review of Recent Geo/oc/ical Lilerature. 51 
in 1895. An index of subjects and also one of authors accompanies the 
pamphlet. In addition to notices of newly descriV)ed minerals and im- 
portant contributions to mineralogy, descriptions of new and improved 
instruments are also given. u. s. G. 
Fossil Fishes of the Moray Firth Area. By Prof. R. H. Traquaik. 
In the above tract, which is reprinted from a larger work, on the Ver- 
tebrata of the Moray basin, by Messrs. Harvie, Brown & Buckley, 
Prof. Traquair has summed up todateour knowledge of the fossil fishcp, 
chiefly Devonian, of Scotland and the reptilian fauna of the Elgin sand- 
stones, with a few Mammalia of quite recent age. 
The oldest fish remains were found in the Orcadian lower old Red 
beds of Cromarty, etc., and occur in limestone nodules. The following 
list of species is given by the author: 
Elasmobranchii. 
Acmtthodei. 
Diplacanthus striatus Ag. Mesacanthus pusillus Ag. 
" teuistriatus Trg. Cheiracanthus murchisoni Ag. 
Rhadinacanthus longispinus Ag. " latus Eg. 
OSTRACODERMI. 
Antiareha . 
Pterichthys milleri Ag. Pterichthys oblongus Ag. 
" product us Ag. 
Dipnoi. 
Sirenoidei. 
Dipterus valenciennesi S. & M. 
Teleostomi. 
Crossopterycj ii. 
Glyptoiepis leptopterus Ag. Osteole^jis macrolepidota. 
Gyroptychius microlepidotus Ag. Diplopteris agassizi Traill. 
Placoderinata. 
Coccosteus decipiens Ag. Homosteus milleri Trq. 
Acipensenridei. 
Cheirolepis trailli Ag. 
"Nearly all these fishes reappear in the flags of Caithneps and Ork- 
ney." 
The three areas therefore "form one great paleontological series — the 
Orcadian." Sir A. Geikie has advanced the opinion that they were de- 
jiosited in a large lake of Lower Devonian age occupying the middle of 
Scotland. 
"Of this assemblage of species not one occurs in the Lower Old Red 
Sandstone of Forfarshire or of any part of Great Britain south of the 
Grampians." 
The indications are therefore of tw(j distinct hydrographical areas for 
these two faunas. 
Unconformably on these Lower Devonian strata lie the Upper Old 
Red beds of Elgin or Nairn. The stratigraphical relations of these two 
areas have not yet been satisfactorily ascertained, but their faunal dis- 
tinctness was proven some years ago by Dr. Traquair. 
The fauna of the Nairn sandstones is sniali. consisting of four species 
only: 
