PHYSIOLOGICAL ANIMAL GEOGRAPHY 601 
Adams, ’08). The climate of a region and all that goes with the 
climate are a climatic or geographic complex. Opposed to these 
are local complexes, such as water (streams or lakes), soil, expos- 
ure, or lack of exposure, ete. For example, in the Mohave Desert 
the climatic conditions are characterizable as hot, arid, etc., but 
within the desert are streams fed by mountain rainfall. These 
streams are local conditions in themselves, and also produce 
other local conditions such as moist soil, ete. These are not 
dependent upon the dominant conditions within the desert. 
The relation of local and geographic condition has been the 
subject of much careful consideration by Cowles (’01), Schimper, 
(03), Shelford (07), Adams (’08) and (’09). 
We will turn our attention, then, first to an inquiry as to the 
best index of climatic or geographic condition or major environ- 
mental complexes. 
1. The index of climatic or geographic conditions or of major 
environmental complexes 
The vegetation from the standpoint of whether it is forest 
steppe, or desert, etc., does not involve animals, and represents 
climatic complexes in a general way. It is the most important 
factor in the control of temperature, moisture, light, food and 
material for abode’ and is a good index of the conditions which 
surround animals. Tentatively it may be used as a basis of classi- 
fication of the animal environments. A knowledge of these en- 
vironmental complexes may be acquired from the data of physi- 
ography, meteorology, plant ecology and physiological plant 
geography (Schimper, ’03). 
to the use of the term ‘geographic’ for the climatic environments because, to 
them, the local environments are equally geographic. Every zoologist under- 
stands the meaning of ‘geographic’ and ‘local.’ Adams’ terms, ‘major’ (climatic) 
and ‘minor’ (local) are to be preferred but one must continually explain their 
meaning. The writer uses ‘climatic’ and ‘geographic’ here because their meaning 
is clear. 
8 Material surroundings have been regarded as of great importance in the case 
of mammals. Hagenbeck states that he always supplies an environment which 
resembles as far as possible the natural environment. He has imitation icebergs 
for polar bears, etc., and finds that this adds greatly to the success of keeping 
his animals in captivity. 
