Annuaire géologique universes et Guide du Géologie autour de la Terre

Abstract

THIS is the first annual issue of a geological guide edited by the Secretary to the Geological Society of France, which cannot fail to be of the greatest use as a book of reference to those concerned with geology all over the world. Multum in parvo would be a very suitable motto for the book, for the amount of information which it contains in a small space is really marvellous. The editor does not profess to have carried out the whole of the programme which he has set before himself in the present issue; but it was decided to bring out the volume this year on account of the meeting of the Geological Congress at Berlin, and also in order that he may be able in the ensuing issue to profit by private and public criticism. The best criticism of it will be a bare statement of its contents. It first describes the history, various meetings and utility of the Congress of Geologists, with the proceedings at the meetings in Paris and Bologna. It then takes the continents in alphabetical order, and the countries in them in the same way, and supplies a mass of geological information of all kinds with regard to each. Taking as an example the first country under the head Europe, which is Germany (Allemagne), we find a list of books on the bibliography of German geology, of general (as distinguished from special and detailed) geological maps, and of the leading works on certain districts; these are succeeded by a general sketch of the geological features of Germany, and of the occurrence of the various geological systems'; then a detailed account of the organisation for the production of geological maps in the various countries and provinces composing the German Empire; then a sketch of the institutions in which geology is taught, the various universities with their professors, laboratories, collections, museums, c., the professors at the various polytechnic and agronomical schools, the public and private geological collections, with in some cases, brief descriptions of the principal features (these occupy a considerable space), then the various geological societies, with their organisations; next the periodical publications, their prices, size, general nature of the contents, divided into five classes-(1) those specially geological, (2) those containing from time to time geological papers, (3) geographical periodicals containing geological papers, (4) those devoted to mining, (5) collections of geological and palæontological memoirs. These lists are succeeded by others which form a very important feature of the work-viz. the names, addresses, and special fields of all the geologists in the German empire; and finally the titles of all the books and papers which have appeared during the past year on mineralogy, petrography, geology, and palæontology, arranged in alphabetical order. This description of the volume under the head “Allemagne,” will give an accurate idea of the scope and arrangement of the book, for although circumstances have prevented the scheme being carried out with the same degree of thoroughness for every part of the globe, the volume will year by year approach nearer to, doubtless even improve upon, this standard. In the case of Great Britain, for instance, the issue for 1886 will contain a thorough study of our geology, and its teaching in our universities and other public institutions. Its ultimate completeness must naturally depend much on the assistance which the editor receives from geologists all over the world in supplying information, making the necessary alterations required by time, offering suggestions and adding corrections; and the volume is so useful and full in design that we have little doubt Dr. Dagincourt's fellow-geologists will willingly help him to carry it out in all its details. We observe that Tasmania has by an error been put amongst Asiatic countries instead of in Australasia.