3o6 The American Geologist. November, 1899 
Gescldchte der Gcologie und Paleontologie. By K. A. voN ZiTTEL. 
This work of over 850 pages, published under the auspices of the 
Bavarian Academy of Sciences, ranks as one of the most important 
geological contributions of the year, and is certainly the most com- 
prehensive account of the progress of geology and paleontology that 
has been written. In so saying we do not overlook the fascinating 
sketches of Lyell and Geikie, nor the numerous compendiums of geo- 
logical literature. The field here covered is a broader one, and is 
treated in a masterly way. 
The development of the science is traced from its crude awakening 
amongst the ancients up to the end of the nineteenth century. About 
one-third of the book is devoted to the period prior' to 1790. The 
next thirty years, during which the foundations of modern geology 
were laid through the influence of Werner and his school, and of 
paleontology through the labors of William Smith, Cuvier and others, 
is designated as the "heroic age" of the science. To the modern era, 
dating from 1820, seven lengthy chapters are devoted, under the cap- 
tions of cosmic, physiographic, dynamic, topographic and strati- 
graphic geology, with one each on petrography and paleontology. 
The important influence of universities, geological societies, and gov- 
ernment surveys in promoting the science is discussed at length, this 
chapter being an expansion of previous articles on the same subject, 
one of which appeared in The Geologist for September, 1894. 
Although the biographic side is kept subordinate to the main is- 
sue, not a little is related of the personal characteristics of former 
great lights in geology, and numerous footnotes interspersed here and 
there furnish condensed narratives of their lives, reference to which 
is facilitated by a copious index. 
Critical and in the main impartial accounts are given of the more 
important theories and investigations which have determined the 
course of geology and paleontology. The development of topographic 
geology is traced according to the dififerent countries which have 
fostered it, that of stratigraphic geology is treated according to the 
several geological periods, and that of paleontology according to the 
various groups of the animal kingdom. This arrangement fills in 
abundant details which are wanting or barely outlined in the chrono- 
logical method employed by Marsh in his address on the "History 
and Methods of Paleontological Discovery" (A. A. A. S. 1879). Com- 
menting on the tendencies of the modern school of paleontology, 
which lays great stress on individual growth-stages, the author finds 
it difficult to repress a hint of his personal bias, especially under the 
head of Mollusca, Trilobites, etc. On the other hand rich tribute Ts 
paid to the genius of Leidy, Cope, Marsh and others who have fos- 
tered the Darwinian hypothesis. Numerous literature-references are 
appended at the conclusion of each chapter, directing the reader to 
the original sources of information. A work of this kind cannot fail 
to receive everywhere a most cordial welcome. c. R. e. 
