Mat 1, 1908] 



SCIENCE 



715 



GEOGEAPBIOAL FIELD STUDY IN ITALY 

 AND THE ALPS 



In connection with a summer trip abroad. 

 Professor W. M. Davis, of Harvard University, 

 proposes to spend June and the greater part 

 of July in northern Italy and the Alps, study- 

 ing certain geographical problems. He 

 would be pleased to have associated with him 

 a number of advanced students, already some- 

 what practised in field study. The districts 

 proposed for examination and the general 

 itinerary (subject to change) are as follows: 

 The foothills of the Apennines near Ancona 

 (about June 1) ; the non-glaciated valleys of 

 the Apennines in the neighborhood of Faenza 

 (about June 5) ; the basin of Florence (about 

 June 10) ; the Mediterranean coast, between 

 Pisa and Spezia, between Spezia and Genoa, 

 west of Genoa (about June 15-20) ; the divide 

 between Mediterranean streams and the head- 

 waters of the Po, north of Genoa (about June 

 22) ; changes in river courses in the head- 

 waters of the Po (about June 24) ; glaciated 

 valleys and lake basins in the Alps (Como, 

 Lugano, Maggiore) (about June 25-30) ; the 

 non-lacustrine valleys of the Dora Baltea and 

 Dora Eiparia (about July 2-6) ; glaciated 

 valleys of the French Alps near Grenoble 

 (about July 8-15). 



It is desired to treat the problems above 

 outlined, and such other problems as members 

 of the party may desire to take up, in accord- 

 ance with the methods of systematic physiog- 

 raphy. The method preferred involves the 

 consideration of structure, process and stage; 

 that is, each district is to be regarded as a 

 solid mass, made up of certain geological 

 structures (composition and attitude of rocks), 

 standing at a certain altitude with respect to 

 baselevel, and advanced by certain erosional 

 processes to a certain stage of physiographic 

 development. The possibilities and the limi- 

 tations of verbal description are to be care- 

 fully considered. 



It is not intended that the members of the 

 party should travel continuously together. 

 The party may be joined and left at any time, 

 as agreed upon. It is requested that any 

 person who desires to take part in these studies 



should send to address given below, at Cam- 

 bridge or in Italy, a statement of his quali^ 

 fications and (in case lie does not hold a uni- 

 versity appointment) a letter of introduction 

 from the professor of geography with whom 

 he has recently studied. 



If his qualifications appear sufiicient, word 

 will be sent giving place and date of 

 rendezvous. On meeting, some local problem 

 such as above indicated will be taken up, it& 

 general nature will be set forth, the methods 

 of treating it will be discussed, and two or 

 three days will be spent in the field with such 

 members of the party as are there gathered. 

 Professor Davis will then go on to some other 

 locality, leaving the party to continue local 

 study of their problem for several days. At 

 the end of that time they will overtake him at 

 a new locality, where a report will be made 

 on their first piece of work and (with such 

 new members as there join the party) a plan 

 for a second piece of work will be developed;, 

 and so on as long as desired, but not later than 

 July 20. 



Professor Davis does not desire to assume 

 any responsibility as to arrangements of 

 travel, hotels, trains, etc. Each member of 

 the party is to make his own traveling ar- 

 rangements and to pay his own traveling ex- 

 penses. At the same time, while members of 

 the party are together, it is expected that 

 plans of travel will be made in common. A 

 general reunion is proposed about July 18, 

 in or near Grenoble, for the presentation and 

 discussion of the various studies. The lan- 

 guages of the Geographical Congresses 

 (French, German, Italian, Spanish or Eng- 

 lish) may be used. Professor Davis may be- 

 addressed as follows : care of W. J. Turner and 

 Co., Naples, until May 10; care of Sebasti e 

 Eeali, Home, nntil May 20; care of Kuster- 

 and Co., Turin, until June 30. 



SCIENTIFIC POSITIONS IN TEE 

 PHILIPPINES 



The Bureau of Science of the Government: 

 of the Philippine Islands at Manila announces 

 two vacancies in the chemical laboratory: one 



