Scientific Serials

Abstract

THE Geological Magazine, Nos. 86—89, August to November 1871. This valuable magazine continues to furnish us every month with important and interesting articles upon subjects belonging to the various departments of geology. In the first number now before us we find an interesting paper on volcanoes by the editor, Mr. H. Woodward, and a particularly valuable arlicle by Mr. J. W. Judd on the anomalous mode of growth of certain fossil oysters. In the latter, which is illustrated with a plate, the author notices those oysters from various secondary deposits, in which the shell has acquired throughout the peculiar sculpture of some ammonite, Trigonia, or other shell, to which its lower valve has adhered during growth. —In the September number the most interesting paper is Mr. Woodward's description of a new Arachnide from the Dudley coal-measures. This animal, to which the author gives the name of Eophrynus Prestvicii, is most nearly allied to the existing genus Phrynzis, and the specimen is remarkable for the beautiful preservation of the casts of both surfaces.—Among the contents of the October number we must call particular attention to Dr. Murie's article on Sivatherium, in which the author discusses the characters of that most remarkable animal, which he regards as most nearly allied to the Saiga antelope, the latter being placed by him at the central point of ramification of the hollow-horned ruminants, and leading from the ruminants towards the Pachyderms through the Tapir. This valuable memoir is illustrated with two plates, one representing the skeleton of the animal, the other giving an ideal restoration of the living aspect of the male, female, and young of this gigantic ruminant.—The November number opens with a biographical notice (with a portrait) of Sir Roderick Murchison, followed by a shorter one of Mr. Charles Babbage. The other articles contained in it are on relics of the Carboniferous and other old land-surfaces, by Mr. Woodward; on the prospects of coal south of the Mendips, by Messrs. Bristow and H. B. Woodward; on the futile search for coal near Northampton, by Mr. S. Sharp; and on the Foraminifera of the Cretaceous rocks, by Messrs. T. Rupert Jones and W. K. Parker.