10 SEPTEMBER 1904, Page 23

Physiography. By T. H. Huxley. Revised and Partly Re- written

by R. A. Gregory. (Macmillan and Co. 4s. 6d.)—Professor Gregory explains, with becoming modesty, why and in what respects he has revised what was one of Huxley's most successful books. One obvious improvement was possible : in the matter of illustra- tion. "Of the three hundred illustrations in the present volume, only six have appeared in the text of the old editions." Various changes have been made. The general character has been pre- served, but its practical utility has been increased. A good example is supplied by the fact that what was said of the Thames has been transferred to river-basins in general. The "intelligent teacher" who, as Huxley thought, would have "no difficulty in making use of the river and river basin" of his own district, will doubtless feel grateful for being helped in his task. The general value of the book remains undiminished, while additions of um. questionable utility have been made. We should like to see chaps. 10 and 11 on "The Sea and its Work" and "Movements of the Land" illustrated by an example which would be familiar to a very large part of the readers who are likely to use this book,— the action of the sea on the coast-line of the county of Kent. The filling up of the old channel that separated the Isle of Thanet from the mainland, the origin of the Goodwin Sands, the recession of the coast-line in the neighbourhood of Kingland along with its advance on the South coast at Winchelsea and Sandwich, present a remarkable series of facts.