254 DAVIS — SYSTEMATIC GEOGRAPHY. [Aprils, 



as because the subject is not maturely developed ; but this is an 

 aspect of the question that I shall elsewhere consider.^ 



1 8. Relaiio7i of Physiography and Ontography. — Unlike physi- 

 ography, which has been recognized as an essential constituent of 

 geography for many years past, ontography has to-day hardly gained 

 an established position. It is best represented in Ratzel's Anthro- 

 pogeographie, but this subdivision of the science is concerned only 

 with the human element, and that is manifestly but a part of the 

 total content of ontography. It is approached in ecology, but 

 none of the many definitions of that term cover all that is here 

 intended, for ontography is meant to include all the responses of 

 organic forms to their physical environment, whether in physio- 

 logical structure, in individual behavior, or in racial habits. 

 Whether there is need of this new term, whether it will survive or 

 not, it serves a present purpose in bringing clearly forward the 

 organic half of the geographical whole. 



The subdivision and classification of ontography has not yet been 

 well accomplished. Before it can be well done, there must be 

 much searching; but we may look forward to a time when all 

 ontographic items shall be arranged on an ontographic framework, 

 in which every compartment shall have for a label what biologists 

 might call a type response. I am persuaded from much profitable 

 experience with the physiographical framework that a corresponding 

 advantage will come from the construction and familiar use of a 

 similiar framework for ontography. Still more : the two frame- 

 works might be brought face to face, and lines might then be drawn 

 between them, connecting cause with effect, effect with cause. If 

 then a plane were passed secant to all these lines of relationship, all 

 the content of geography might be projected along the lines upon 

 it. If the plane were placed near the physiographic framework, 

 there would be groups of points, where numerous radiating lines 

 departing from some dominant physiographic control pass through 

 the plane on their way to various ontographic effects. If the plane 

 were passed near the ontographic framework, the grouping of 

 numerous points of intersection would serve to indicate those 

 organic forms which respond to many physiographic controls, while 

 isolated points would indicate forms that respond to few. Accord- 



1 National Association for the Scientific Study of Education, Proceedings of 

 the Minneapolis Meeting, July, 1902. 



