GEOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS 209 
map sheets. The usefulness of the empirical measurement of 
altitudes on so detailed a scale as here proposed may also be 
questioned. Not contour-line areas, but ph5’’siographical areas, 
should be computed, for it is of little geographical value to in- 
clude under a single arithmetical heading two surfaces of equal 
limiting altitudes, one a steep slope, the other a broad flat. 
Again, the seriousness of the undertaking is hardly recognized 
in the statement that “the physiographical explanation would, 
so far as the geology is concerned, be simply a restatement of the 
‘ physical geography ’ section of the [local] geological survey 
memoir, with such modifications as the modern views of the 
cycle of development of a land surface suggest.” This is as if 
one should say that a petrographical chapter in a new geological 
report should be merel}’’ a modification of a chapter on rocks 
that was written before the methods of modern petrography 
were invented. 
It is stated that the geographical description “ must be the 
work of a trained geographer, who, after studying the maps in 
the light of all the information referred to above, shall have 
made himself familiar with the ground.” There are in Great 
Britain man}^ travelers and explorers, but not many “ trained 
geographers ” in the sense contemplated by Dr Mill, and here 
seems to be a prime difficulty besetting this grand undertaking 
at its outset. But the difficulty may be in great part solved if 
to this crowning chapter we apply what Dr Mill says of a certain 
subordinate section ; “ It would be very suitable as an exercise 
and training for students if any institution existed in this coun- 
try where students could he induced to study geography seri- 
ousl}\” A work of this sort must necessarily be uneven in 
quality. It should exhibit a marked improvement from a fair 
beginning to a much better ending, and when the end comes a 
revision of the earlier parts may he fairly demanded. It is, 
therefore, to be hoi)ed that Dr Mill will not adhere too closely 
to the philosophy that prohihits going into the water until after 
learning how to swim. Let a beginning of the work at least he 
made as a means of training up new geographers, and not merely 
as an occupation fijr geographers already trained. Let the Royal 
Geographical Society announce that it will ])uhlish in hrochurcs 
chapters written according to an approved )»lan and reaching a 
standard satisfactor}' to a committee of editors. An actual be- 
ginning thus made, in the best form at present attainable, will 
give the strongest possible ini[)ulse to the serious study of geog- 
