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Canadian Record of Science. 



survey which is really topographical as well as geological,. 

 and which, under such men as Hayden, King and Powell, 

 has produced a series of magnificent maps, diagrams and 

 memoirs of the highest scientific value and interest. 

 Recently this survey has been placed on a more systematic 

 basis, so that now a scheme for the topographical survey 

 of the whole of the territory of the United States is being 

 carried out. Extensive areas in various parts of the 

 States have been already surveyed on different scales. It 

 is to be hoped that in the future, as in the past, the able 

 men who are employed on this survey work will have 

 opportunities of working out the physiography of particu- 

 lar districts, the past and present geography of which is of 

 advancing scientific interest. Of tlie complete exploration 

 and mapping of the North American continent we need 

 have no apprehension ; it is only a question of time, 

 and it is to be hoped that neither of the governments 

 responsible will allow political exigencies to interfere with 

 what is really a work of national importance. 



CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA. 



It is when we come to Central and South America that 

 we find ample room for the unofficial explorer. In 

 Mexico and the Central American States tliere are 

 considerable areas of whicli we have little or only the 

 vaguest knowledge. In South America there is really 

 more room now for tlie pioneer explorer than there is in 

 Central Africa. In recent years the Argentine Eepulilic 

 has shown laudable zeal in exploring and mapping its 

 immense territories, while a certain amount of good work 

 has also been done by Brazil and Chili. Most of our 

 knowledge of South America is due to the enterprise 

 of Europeans and of North American explorers. Along 

 the great river courses our knowledge is fairly satisfactory, 

 but the immense areas, often densely clad with forests, 

 lying between the rivers are almost unknown. In Pata- 



