134 Notices of Memoirs — 8ir A. Geikie — 



1. With regard to the first of these questions it is obvious that 

 international co-operation maj' be profitably adopted for the con- 

 sideration of problems connected with dynamical geology — such as 

 earthquakes, the movements of the terrestrial crust, the course, 

 fluctuations and geological functions of glaciers, the rate of 

 progress of denudation under the action of epigene agents in 

 different climates. 



2. The reply to the second question ought to be treated from 

 two points of view. In the first place, there are international 

 scientific investigations which by reason of their special character 

 ought to be undertaken by geologists properly so called. For this 

 kind of research the Congress has only to follow the lines already 

 laid down by it, and the end will be attained by the organization 

 of special commissions similar to those now in operation for the 

 geological map of Europe, glaciers, petrography, which have already 

 obtained such important results. New special commissions may 

 have to be appointed, but this is not the place to propose them. 



But there is a second series of international researches of capital 

 importance to geology, the prosecution of which appears to me 

 to require an organisation and resources superior to those of our 

 Congress. For some yeai's several scientific Associations have existed 

 which, like our own, have proposed international combination for the 

 furtlierance of different branches of science. I think our Congress 

 might profit by this tendency, and endeavour to effect a collaboration 

 for the study of the problems which interest us and whose solution 

 involves varied technical knowledge and considerable expense. 

 Thus it is a problem of the greatest interest to geologists, whether 

 a chain of mountains subject to earthquakes undergoes at the same 

 time slow movements of elevation or depression. The solution of 

 this question necessitates particular measurements, both numerous 

 and prolonged. But why should geologists undertake it alone ? 

 It is as interesting for geodesists as for geologists ; the accuracy 

 of their methods would be most valuable to us. Now there already 

 exists an " International Geodetic Association," established for the 

 study of the shape of the earth. Why should we not seek the 

 co-operation of our colleagues for investigations like these, where 

 geodesy plays an all-important part, but which have also great 

 geological value? On the other hand, since the Geological Congress 

 met at Paris the " International Association of Academies," composed 

 of delegates from all the Academies of the world, has been founded,. 

 It has the double object of co-ordinating scientific investigations and 

 of obtaining from the Governments of the different countries definite 

 and effectual support. This powerful Association appears to be so 

 well adapted to deal with international scientific questions that we 

 may well ask ourselves if it would not more easily and fully than 

 our Commission determine the questions that I have submitted to 

 the Congress. 



If such should be your opinion, and the Congress should judge 

 it fitting to apply to the " International Association of Academies," 

 I would suggest that a Committee be appointed to define the 



