REVIEWS 639 



to teachers as showing that the modern science of physiography does 

 not rest on a few classical examples. The book leaves the very whole- 

 some impression that the United States abounds in valuable illustra- 

 tions which are yet unknown to text-book literature, the bringing 

 forward of which depends largely upon teachers who are working in 

 their vicinity, just as Mr. Dryer has sought out those of his own state. 

 The arrangement of the book is good for those who may wish to follow 

 the author's own order and convenient for those who do not. The 

 suggestions on method, both in the "Realistic Exercises" and in the 

 appendix, are helpful. The teacher is introduced to many of the val- 

 uable materials which are now available for this study. A good bibli- 

 ography is given. The author is plainly in touch with the most 

 recent work in his science. A few statements or suggestions in geol- 

 ogy do not take into account some of the recent work. A sentence 

 on p. 48, despite previous cautious statements, implies the belief that 

 isostacy alone may support the earth's broad plateaus. On the same 

 page the wrinkling of the earth's crust is ascribed solely to cooling of 

 the interior. A faulty impression of slate would be left by the men- 

 tion on p. 32. Under "Causes of Glacial Motion," three theories are 

 mentioned : plastic flow, regelation, and alternate melting and freez- 

 ing. Processes which in recent studies have become more prominent 

 than these are not mentioned. The too general and perhaps mislead- 

 ing contrast between the "older drift" and the "newer drift" are not 

 due to any lack of information on the author's part, whose familiarity 

 with the complexity of drift problems is shown both in this and other 

 writings. An unfortunate expression on p. 135 would leave the 

 impression that the Great Basin as a whole is actually a basin with a 

 rim. The mention of " subordinate basins" serves to emphasize this 

 error. Small shortcomings like those mentioned here are but rare 

 exceptions in this very good text-book. In its characteristic qualities 

 the book not only meets the general demands of good science and 

 good teaching, but is well adapted to the particular needs of the pres- 

 ent time. 



N. M. F. 



Some Notes Regarding Vaerdal ; The Great Landslip. Dr. Hans 

 Reusch. Norges geologiske Undersogelse ; Aarbog for 1900. 



This complete and well illustrated note, which Dr. Reusch has 

 summarized in English, recounts a very remarkable landslip. The 



