446 SOME NEW BOOKS [DECEMBER 
detail and the student for less. Hence the publication of the present “‘ Elements ” 
which is adapted to the busy student, while further editions of the Lehrbuch 
will be specialised for his teachers. Beyond that some paragraphs have in- 
corporated recent results, there is little to distinguish this new volume from its 
predecessors, but it is shorter and perhaps simpler, and more emphasis is given 
to the summaries. All must wish it good speed. 
CO-OPERATIVE GEOGRAPHY. 
The International Geography. By Seventy AutHors. Edited by Hucu 
Ropert MIL1, D.Sc., ete. Pp. xix. +1088. London: George Newnes, 
Limited, 1899. Price 16s. 
The method of compiling a hand-book of geography by the collaboration of 
a number of authors, each of whom is a native of the country he describes, or 
has had especial opportunities of making himself thoroughly conversant with 
the subject of which he treats, has self-evident advantages. It has, however, 
its drawbacks. Authors are apt to give undue prominence to their particular 
theories, and to entertain different views as to what details should be included, 
with the consequence that the book is lacking in uniformity. For the con- 
tributors to this work the editor has drawn up a set of rules, setting forth the 
heads of information and the order in which they should be discussed. But 
these rules have not always been followed. In some cases the geology has not 
been touched upon, in others internal communications have received little 
attention, and boundaries are sometimes clearly defined where they are definitely 
fixed and marked on maps, while no mention is made of others which are still 
subjects of dispute. 
Two or three instances will suffice to show how the division of labour has 
resulted in a want of unity in the whole. On p. 16 it is stated that Thales 
invented gnomonic projection, and the reader will naturally turn—in vain—to 
the preceding chapter to find out what that projection is. The writer of the 
chapter on Mathematical Geography has evidently had some difficulty in com- 
pressing all he had to say into the space allotted, and could not foresee that his 
colleague would mention a projection now used only on charts for Great Circle 
sailing. The apparent antagonism contained in the sentences, “ Further north 
the Parana takes the name of Paraguay” (p. 850), and “They (the Parana and 
Paraguay) both rise in Brazil,” needs only a few words of explanation. Another 
case is of more importance, the two sentences being contradictory ; on p. 423 
we are told that ‘‘ no definite geomorphic line divides them (the islands of the 
archipelago between Asia and Australia) into an Asiatic and an Australian 
group. ‘Wallace’s Line’. . . is only a faunal boundary”; and on p. 533 we 
find, “‘ This line, therefore, clearly follows what, in very recent geological times, 
was the shore of the continent of Asia”—a boundary still marked by a belt of 
deep water. 
Other small discrepancies might be pointed out, and are to be expected in 
so comprehensive a work on its first appearance, and considering the vast 
amount of labour involved in gathering together so large a staff of collaborators, 
providing for the translation of articles written in foreign languages, and in the 
general supervision of the whole work. 
Nevertheless, a large measure of success has been attained, the individual 
chapters are on the whole of a high order, many of them being really 
excellent, more particularly those from the pens of professed geographers, who 
are accustomed to regard a country from all points of view, and treat the 
physical features, geology and climate, in connection with the occupations of its 
inhabitants. Professor W. M. Davis’ description of the United States deserves 
especial mention, and the editor’s chapter on the British Isles has also great. 
merit, apart from one or two slips in the historical paragraphs. 
