Fragments of Earth Lore: Sketches and Addresses, Geological and Geographical

Abstract

THESE collected papers form a fairly connected work on the origin of the present surface features of the world at large, and of Scotland in particular. The first is a well-put plea for the more intelligent and far-sighted method of teaching geography, and is followed up by four articles on the geographical features of Scotland, which are of a somewhat advanced and special character, and lead directly to the exposition of the author's views on glacial action. That forms the subject matter of the next eight papers, supplemented by a geographical essay in which he discusses some aspects of the question of earth movements, which are obviously closely connected with the theoretical explanations of climatal change. On the whole, perhaps, another form would have been better; for the advice as to the teaching of geography will hardly be necessary for the same readers as those who, with their local field club, are prepared to follow the author through the Western Islands; while those who wish to examine once more the arguments for the special views on the ancient glaciation of the country which he advocates, would have found the information more usefully arranged for them, if worked into a manual. The style of the articles is sufficiently didactic to have readily lent itself to this form.

Fragments of Earth Lore: Sketches and Addresses, Geological and Geographical.

By James Geikie, &c, &c. (Edinburgh: John Bartholomew & Co. London: Simpkin Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., Limited, 1893.)