162 National Geographic Magazine. 



physiographic conditions which govern this distribution, and to 

 formulate the laws which are operative in bringing about the re- 

 sults we see. In other words, we are to study cause and effect 

 in the relations of physiography to biology. 



The kind of works meriting discussion in the annual report of 

 the Vice-president of this section are such philosophic treatises 

 as those of Humboldt, Dana, Agassiz, DeCandolle, Engler, Dar- 

 win, Huxley, Pelzeln, Sclater, Wallace, Baird, Verrill, Allen, Cope, 

 and Gill. As it is seldom that more than one or two such works 

 appear in any single year, there is likely to be ample opportunity 

 for profitable discussion. 



January, 1889. 



