596 Scientific Intelligence. 



III. Miscellaneous Scientific Intelligence. 



1 . Annals of the Association of American Geographers • 

 edited by R. E. Dodge. Vol. I, 1911, pp. 1-164, with figures and 

 plates. — The Association of American Geographers, organized in 

 1904, has now inaugurated a publication policy one of whose re- 

 sults is the above volume. It is proposed to publish from time to 

 time certain of the most important papers presented at the annual 

 meetings, and since the society is the only geographical organi- 

 zation which makes achievement in research a condition of 

 membership, the Annals of the Association should be of unusual 

 interest and value. The present volume is of special importance 

 to librarians and geographers, for it contains titles and abstracts 

 of all papers presented to the society (1904-1910 inclusive) and 

 heretofore not published or published in variable form in different 

 journals. 



Under the circumstances, certain features of the make-up 

 deserve attention. We note with satisfaction the quarto size of 

 the volume which permits the presentation of large-scale maps, 

 sketches, and photographs and a dignified text-page. Everyone 

 agrees that octavo size is perhaps a little more convenient, a fact 

 that has begotten a school of extremists who will not have quartos 

 under any circumstances. Foot-note references are another praise- 

 worthy feature. The inconvenience of reference from page to 

 notes at the end of a volume and back again is so great that there 

 seems to be no compensating advantage in their separation. The 

 time has passed when this can be called a difference of opinion ; 

 it is the difference between good and bad judgment. 



The papers in Volume I are well chosen and represent some- 

 thing of the range of modern geography : " The Causes of 

 Vegetational Cycles" (Cowles) ; " The Colorado or Front Range : 

 A Study in Physiographic Presentation" (Davis) ; " Geography 

 in the Development of the Alaska Coal Deposits" (Brooks) ; 

 "A Geographic Study of Mesa Verde" (Atwood). Cowles' paper 

 is not only a model in clear scientific writing but also a revelation 

 to many of the value of geography in ecological research. As 

 indicated by the sub-title, the second paper is concerned prima- 

 rily with form in physiographic writing and embodies in final 

 form the ideas presented in Professor Davis' recent papers on 

 this subject together with certain new features as to method. It 

 is an extraordinarily useful and brilliant essay that, Ave venture 

 to say, will be as eagerly read a hundred years hence as now. 

 Brooks' paper is a closely organized study in the economic geog- 

 raphy of the Alaskan coal fields. Atwood discusses the origin of 

 Mesa Verde and the relation of its physiographic character to the 

 homes and activities of the Cliff Dwellers. i. b. 



2. Annual Report of the Director of the Field Museum of 

 Xatural History, Frederick J. V. Skiff, for the year 1911. 

 Report series, vol. IV, No. 2 ; pp. 101-182, plates XVII-XXIX. 

 Chicago, January, 1912.— The Annual Report by Dr. Skiff states 

 that the past year has been an important one for the Field 



