THIS twelfth Report, dealing with the Alpine glaciers and their changes, by Dr. Forel, comes in the nick of time, and will be generally welcomed, for it announces that the question of glacier-changes in the Alps will in future be studied systematically; and, further, we learn in a postscript that the State Council of the Canton of Le Valais have, on the proposition of M. Maurice de la Pierre, head of the Home Department, decided to take under its efficient direction the studies of observation and control of the variations of glaciers. These observations are confided to the charge of the Cantonal Administration of Forests, the head of which is M. Antoine de Torrenté at Sion. M. Forel records this act of intelligent and prudent administration with keen satisfaction and true gratitude, and would gladly see it imitated by other cantons possessing glaciers. M. Forel publishes also the report, which, in compliance with the wishes of M. de la Pierre, he had addressed to the Home Department of Le Valais. It is equally applicable to the glaciers of other cantons in Switzerland, and we therefore print it in extenso.