P R ~ S C I P I I L SOF PHYSICXL GEOGI<.ll’liY. By 1:. J . Monkliousc..

pp ssir
+ 453. ?60 illus.. University of London Press. 1054. Price 30/-.
This tcxt-book is primarily Iutenclctl fnr the lirst ycar rbf a i‘niversity
course in geograpliy, and for tlir Vltlr forms of p w i n i a r scliools and is
eminently suited to its purpose. Just over half is concernecl with geomoyh-
ology, the remainder dealing with other aspects of pliysical gcngraphy: thc
oceans, climatology, soil and vegetation. I t is very readable and profusel!.
illustrated, scientific terms are carefully explained ancl whenrver possible.
as the author maintains in the preface. “classifications with careful headings
and subheadings have been used in order t o bring system and ordered
relationship into the mass of material with which we are confronted.” ‘The
book should be most useful to the amateur Keologist wishing to further his
study of geoinmphoio~gyxnrl “to all who are interestctl in the. facc of thc
countryside.”
The illustrations and diagrams arc a prominent feature o f the book; therr
are no fewer than 171 line diagrams and 90 plates. The latter, a considerable
number of which are the work of 41r. R. Kay Gresswell, are admirable and
have been carefully chosen to illustrnte the text. Alinost without exception
they are suitably placed for reference, a feature by n o means common in
modern text-biioks. T h c draughtsmanship of the lino diagrams is extremely
clear, although it is a little irritating on occasion to tind a numbered ’key
which entails a further reference to the explanation hclow and. in one case.
even at the side of the diagram. One can offer other minor criticisms: e.g. it
would have been helpful to find the ’glint line on fig. 118; the student may
wonder which arc really the Great ancl Little \\'bin Sills on fig. 21); one would
have liked to see tig. 118 (Former Lakes) on a larger scale (space could havi.
been found by reducing other diagrams without loss of clarity): i t is unfort-
unate t h a t fig. 45 is labelled ‘Occurrcncc o f Chalk & Iimestone in England
when the Jurassic Scarp is not shown. I n the sectiod on climatology one is
pleased to see t h a t the usual niisleading diagram of the p!anetary winds.
still found even in niodern text-books, has been suitably modified.
There is a full index and a useful appendix giving suggestions--niostl?.
standard text-hooks-for further reading. The opportunity might be taken
in a future edition of including references t o original papers which the student
niight find helpful. There is no doubt that Professor Monkhouse’s book will
I)c wiclcly adopted in schools and university deparlnients, s n d it should
ccrtainly be found in every library.-H.T.K.