Catalogue Des Bibliographies Géologiques. Par Emm. De Margerie

Reviews—Geological Survey, Annual Report. 233 It may be pointed out that if this hypothesis of the origin of the Palaeolithic brickearths (luring the reign of "steppe" conditions be accepted, it will account for the non-correspondence of the ancient channels with the present valleys, a thing very difficult to explain if the infilling were caused by ordinary fluviatile action. If the Paleolithic brickearth be equivalent to the Palaeolithic loess of the ancient deserts in Central Europe, it can be understood how during this period of cold drought the smaller streams ceased to flow and their valleys became so filled with rainwash and dust that when a moister climate recurred the streams had to geek new channels.

BEYIE W' S.

I.—ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, AND OF THE MUSEUM OF PRACTICAL GEOLOGY, FOR THE YEAR 1896. By Sir ARCHIBALD GEIKIE, D.C.L., F.R.S., Director-General. 8vo. (London : Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1897.) HE Annual Keport of the Director-General of the Geological Survey since 1892 has contained particulars of the scientific Tand practical results obtained during the progress of the field-work, and by the officers of the palaaontological and petrographical depart- ments. Hitherto, however, the Eeport has been published only in the more bulky Report of the Department of Science and Art; and although reprints of the portion relating to the Geological Survey have been distributed, they could not be purchased separately by the general public. A new departure has now been made, and the present Report is published at the price of Qd., and in advance of the larger departmental volume. Occupying 107 pages of closely printed matter, this Report needs the index which has been added to it. A considerable amount of detail relating to all branches of geology, but more particularly to petrographical researches on the ancient schists, and on various other metainorphic and igneous rocks, will be found. Nearly all formations from those of Pre-Cambrian age to the Recent are dealt with, and some facts relating to the Antiquity of Man, to Lake Basins, and other controverted subjects, are included. The Report being in itself a summary of the observations made by the officers engaged on the Geological Survey, it is impossible here to do more than call attention to the publication, which will doubtless find its way into the hands of all working geologists.

II.—CATALOGUE DKS BIBLIOGRAPHIES GEOLOGIQUES. Par EMM. DB MARGERIE. 8vo; pp. xx, 733. (Paris, 1896. Issued April, 1897.) Tl^HIS Bibliography of Geological Bibliographies is probably the JL most valuable and useful work that has been issued under the auspices of the " Congres Geologique International." It contains 3,918 references to lists and catalogues of papers, to papers and memoirs containing copious references to geological literature, and to memoirs and obituary notices of geologists all over the world.

Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. University of West London, on 22 Oct 2018 at 00:25:44, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0016756800187230 234 Reports and Proceedings—Geological Society of London. There are indices to authors, principal subjects, and places. If, however, we want a reference to a memoir, say of Win. Smith, we must search for it under " Biographies de Geologues—Anglais," in the table or index of principal subjects. If we want a list of works on the geology of Lancashire, we must turn to references under " Grande-Bretagne" in the " Table Geographique." The list of authors is no doubt useful, but we think it would have been much more advantageous to index the Memoir of Win. Smith under Smith than under John Phillips; and the list of papers on Lancashire, under Lancashire, rather than under Whitaker and Tiddeman. For ready reference we want, in fact, fuller indices to subjects and places. It is, however, ungracious to find fault with a work that in all other respects is fall and accurate. Geologists will do well to turn over the pages of this volume and take note of the books and memoirs that relate to their special subjects of study, and many will be surprised to find how much useful bibliographic work has been done. Of such work no example will probably be more used than the volume before us, and all geologists will feel indebted to M. de Margerie for the great care and labour he has bestowed on the Catalogue.

BBPOBTS -A-IsTID

GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. I.—March 24, 1897.—Dr. Henry Hicks, F.R.S., President, in the Chair. The following communications were read :— 1. " Notes on some Volcanic and other Rocks which occur near the Baluchistan-Afghan Frontier, between Chaman and Persia." By Lieut.-General C. A. McMahon, V.P.G.S., and Captain A. H. McMahon, C.I.E. In the first part of this paper Captain McMahon describes briefly the physical geography of the Baluchistan deserts, which extend along the south of the Helmund River, between Quetta and Persia. Taking first the plains and their drainage-system, he shows how the wide alluvial plains of Shorawak and Chagai were probably in. earlier times one large lake. North and west of these plains, as far as Persia, lie vast deserts of sand, which in places are gradually encroaching upon and burying the mountain-ranges which rise up like islands in the desert. He shows how the sand has intercepted all the drainage from the mountains and prevented it from making its way, as it would otherwise do, into the Helmund River and the God-i-Zirreh Lake. Turning next to the mountains, Capt. McMahon describes a well-defined line of fault, which he traced for a distance of about 120 miles from north of Chaman, along the Khwaja Amrau and Sarlat mountain-ranges to Nushki. East of this fault all the rocks appear to be sedimentary ; while those to the west are all, with few exceptions, volcanic and igneous. The mountain-ranges in the desert described appear to be all volcanic, and reference is made to the Koh-i-Tattan, 12,600 feet high, lying south-west of them, which is still an active volcano.