THE ANNALS AND MAGAZINE OF NATURAL HISTORY, [THIRD SERIES.] No. 20. AUGUST 1859, VII. — On the Laws of Evolution of the Organic World during the Formation of the Crust of the Earth. By H. G. Bronn*. Under the above title, Bronn has just published, in German, his prize-essay sent to the Academy of Sciences of Paris. This memoir was prepared in response to a question proposed in 1853 by that Academy, and referred to the concourse in 1854, in the following form : — " Study the laws of the distribution of fossil organic bodies in the different sedimentary strata according to the order of super-position : '' Discuss the question of their successive or simultaneous appearance and disappearance : " Investigate the nature of the relations existing between the present state of the organic kingdom and its former states." The Academy has indeed decided that Bronn's important work shall be printed ; but, in accordance with the usages and customs of that Institution, we shall still, no doubt, have to wait some years to see the completion of its printing. Tortunately, M. Bronn has indulged us with a German translation of his memoir, which has the advantages over the original, in the first place, of being published, and, in the second, of being augmented by a multitude of notes, which place this work at the level of the state of science in 1858. In place of making an analysis of this remarkable work, we have thought it best to submit to our readers a complete trans-* From " Untersuchungen iiber die Entwickekmgsgesetze der organi-schen Welt wahrend der Bildungszeit unserer Erdoberfiache." Stuttgard, 1858. Translated by W. S. Dallas, F.L.S., from the Bibliotheque Universelle de Geneve, 20th March, 1859, Archives des Sciences physiques et naturelles, p. 217. Ann, ^ Mag, N, Hist, Ser. 3. Fb/.iv. 6
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