Geography of the Land. 135 



voted exclusively to its interests. America, too, contributed 

 largely to the Geologic Congress recently held in London, and it 

 is pleasing to note that the next session of the Congress is prom- 

 ised for Philadelphia, 



At the suggestion of one of our associates I call the attention 

 of the students of the science, and indeed all interested in it, and 

 also of Geographers, to a recent publication entitled, " The Build- 

 ing of the British Isles," by Jukes-Browne (Scribner & Welford, 

 N. Y.). It has been characterized as the best treatise on the evo- 

 lution of the land areas which has yet appeared ; from the 

 Geologist point of view it is the book of the year. Another 

 associate recommends to most attentive consideration the recent 

 articles on " Three formations of the Middle Atlantic slope," by 

 W J McGee (Am. Journal Science, Feb. -June, 1888), as one of 

 the most original essays of recent years. 



It also gives me great pleasure to bring to your attention an 

 article on the " Physical Geography of New England," by Wm. 

 M. Davis, in a book on the " Butterflies of New England," by S. 

 H. Scudder. It is hardly necessary to recommend this publica- 

 tion to your perusal, as I doubt not being from the pens of our 

 Associates, it will excite a lively interest in those devoted to these 

 sciences. 



In conclusion permit me to refer briefly to the "National 

 Geographic Magazine," published by the Society, the first number 

 of which has recently been placed before you. It is the desire of 

 the Committee having charge of this publication to make it a 

 journal of influence and usefulness. There is abundant material 

 in the Society to furnish the substance, if those who have it at 

 command will make legitimate use of their opportunities. It 

 would be unfortunate if the text should be confined to the papers 

 presented to the Society. It was not the intention of the Board 

 of Managers that such should be the case, when the publication 

 was determined upon. On the contrary, it was the expectation 

 that there would be original communications from many sources: 

 essays, reviews and notes on the various subjects of the five 

 Departments in which the Society is organized, not necessarily 

 from the members, but also from their friends interested in these 

 divisions of the general subject. While this expectation has been 

 realized in a measure, there is room for improvement and it is 

 hoped the future will show an increasing interest and more gen- 

 erous contributions. 

 December, 1888. 



