(1) The Birth and Development of the Geological Sciences (2) A Source Book in Geology

Abstract

IT is now more than thirty years since a comprehensive treatise on the history of geology has appeared in the English language. For long Sir Archibald Geikie's admirable “Founders of Geology” and von Zittel's “History of Geology and Palaeontology”have been the standard and, in fact, almost the only works exclusively devoted to this subject available for students. Since they were written, fresh studies in the history of geology have appeared from time to time, both in Europe and the United States. These have generally been of a more or less specialized character, and they have by no means exhausted the scope for further research. The appearance of two important new books on this subject is therefore a matter of considerable interest, particularly because both the original German edition of Zittel and the English translation by Mrs. Qgilvie-Gordon have long been out of print. (1) The Birth and Development of the Geological Sciences By Dr. Frank Dawson Adams. Pp. v + 506 + 14 plates. (London: Bailliere, Tindall and Cox, 1939.) 22s. 6d. (2) A Source Book in Geology By Prof. Kirtley F. Mather Dr. Shirley L. Mason. (Source Books in the History of the Sciences Series.) Pp. xxii + 702. (New York and London: McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., 1939.) 30s.