PREFACE. THE branch of study called Physiography, as outlined in the Syllabus of the Science Department, South Kensington, is intended to give such a knowledge of the forces of nature as to enable those who have not had the advantage of a regular course of natural science, to understand the ordinary facts presented by Descriptive Geography-the principles, in short, that underlie Physical Geography. The present text-book is adapted to the first or Elementary Stage of the syllabus, and follows pretty closely the order therein laid down. Where the ground to be gone over coincided with that treated in the text-book of Physical Geography published by W. & R. Chambers, the matter of that treatise has, in some instances, been transferred to the present with little change. When the same things were to be said, the Compiler did not see why he should go out of his way to say them in different words. The treatment is throughout elementary; but, so far as it goes, it is hoped that little here taught will have to be unlearned. The geological facts are adapted from the two treatises (Geology, and Historical Geology, by James Geikie, F.R.S., author of The Great Ice Age) published by W. & R. Chambers. The chemical paragraphs have been revised by Professor Crum Brown, of Edinburgh University; and the whole has had the advantage of revision and suggestion by Alexander Buchan, Secretary to the Scottish Meteorological Society, especially the sections that treat of his own subject. The Syllabus of the Elementary Stage, together with Specimens of Questions set at the annual examinations, will be found in the Appendix. It will be observed that some of the questions belong not so much to the special field of Physiography as to ordinary Descriptive and Physical Geography, which the student is expected to be already acquainted with, and on which he is warned that questions may be set. |