Tourists' Guide to Derbyshire. By J. Charles Cox. London: Stanford.
Price Two Shillings.
This is a guide book forming one of a series published by Mr. Stanford. It is not without defects, but it possesses many excellencies. To refer first to short-comings: The information us to inns is imperfect, and the distances are not always accurate. Several of the most picturesque bits in the county are not even mentioned: as instances of such omissions we may call the author's attention to thy romantic road from Hayfield into Edale, Cave Dale at Castleton, Alport Castles, the head of Dove Dale, and the Lathkill Valley. A tone of depreciation of Derbyshire scenery is often assumed, which runs counter to popular judgement; as for example, the slur cast on Chee Dale and Monsal Dale. The lover of the moorlands also will certainly be surprised to learn that Kinder Scout and Axe Edge are not worth the trouble of ascending.
On the other hand, however, to the ecclesiologist the book will be invaluable; the descriptions of the churches are full and accurate; indeed, when we remember who is the author, praise becomes needless. In the church Mr. Cox is thoroughly at home, and the reader gets the best information in the handiest form.
Coming to matters scientific we are glad to see a good description of Derbyshire Geology. and we can only regret that space seems to have prevented a similar chapter an the Botany of the county. The geological sketch is well done, and includes a reference to the important discoveries of Pleistocene mammalia and traces of Paleolithic man in the Derbyshire caves. It would lave been as well lad the high merit of the Rev. J. M. Mello, as discoveror of the Cresswell deposits, ecu recognised; the results of that explorasion (the chief part of which was carried on by a comiittee under the superintendence of Professor Boyd Dawkins, whose valuable aid is not referred to) have been divided amongst the museums at Derby, Manchester, Castleton, Sheffield, and other places, and are not all at Derby as supposed by the anthor, The geueral conclusions drawn by Mr. Mello, Professar Busk, and Professoy Dawkins are, however, stated with auccuracy.
The reader will find frequent references to the monuments of pre- historic archæology which abound in the Peak. He may not believe then: all to be of Celtic origin, or accept Mr. Fergusson's "Rude Stone Monuments" as any sort of an authority on British antiquities; bat he will find Mr. Cox's descriptions very useful.
Altogether the book is a valuable addition to Derbyshire literature, and the stranger who uses it will find his way to many an object of interest or beauty which Black or Murray entirely ignore.
Meteorology of the Midlands.
The Weather of September, 1878.
By W. Jerome Warrison, F.G.S.
The first fortnight of the month was dry and pleasant weather, only broken by a severe thunderstorm on the 5th, in which at Pitsford 1.60 inches of rain fell between 6 30 a.m. and 9 a.m. In the same storm, .33 inches fell at Bishop's Castle in ten minutes. .66 inches in one hour at Shifnal, and l.24 inches in one hour at Kinver. A severe westerly gale blew on the 15th, and was followed by showery and cloudy days to the end of the month. On the morning of the 30th, another heavy thunderstorm was experienced at most stations, doing much damage near Coventry, and largely denuding the trees of their leaves.
