‘ 
GRIGGS: EDGE OF FOREST IN ALASKA 885 
The advancing forest at Kodiak is peculiarly significant because 
it is a typical example of the kind of evidence upon which most 
of the assumptions of static plant ranges have been based. The 
edges of the forests more than any other vegetational lines have 
been used to show the correlation of plant ranges with climatic 
factors. Such work is all based on an assumption of complete 
adjustment of plants to climate and loses its significance wherever 
such adjustment does not exist, i. e., wherever the ranges are not 
fixed but changing. Our knowledge of the conditions obtaining 
at the limits of forests except in a few cases has all been derived 
from reports by travelers of stunting and apparent struggle against 
climatic extremes has seemed conclusive just as similar observa- 
tions appeared conclusive to the writer at Kodiak. In few cases 
has the history of the regions been examined to find the actual 
facts. 
Ou1o STATE UNIVERSITY, 
COLUMBUS, OHIO 
