The Canadian Oxford Desk Atlas of the World.

THE CANADIAN OXFORD ESK ATLAS OF THE WORLD, 2nd ed. Toronto: Oxford University Press. 1963. 120 pages of maps and supplementary tables, 12-page gazetteer of Canada, 20-page gazetteer of the world. 10 x 7% inches. $3.95. This revised edition of “the most popular Canadian compact atlas” is recommended for its excellent editing, printing, new statistical information, and additional maps. Of the last named Arctic readers will note the zenithal equidistant projection of the Arctic (scale 1 in. = 400 mi., p. 1). This is the only addition of direct polar interest although minor alterations have been made to maps of Canada, the Northwest Territories and Antarctica. These include recognition of Inuvik and Frobisher Bay, in keeping with their increased importance since the first edition, and new locations of airports and communication lines and the latest position of the North Magnetic pole. Our greater knowledge and exploration of Antarctica since I.G.Y. are reflected by the exclusion of the limited zone of “areas not seen by man”, designated previously. Presumably, the greater part of the continent has been seen, at least from the air. The legend explains the six categories of land and sea ice portrayed but otherwise few changes have been made. The double page maps of Eurasia on the zenithal equal area projection include much of northeastern North America and permit the representation of several significant trans-polar relationships such as climate, vegetation, population and communications. Maps of U.S.S.R. and Scandinavia portray these northern lands well, but a cartographic slip, by omission of white, has melted the glaciers in Iceland (page 60). The ‘Oxford photo-relief technique’ successfully gives a three-dimensional effect to many of the topographical maps, but the appearance of several is marred by too dark a shade of grey. The same happens with the sea-ice symbols and they tend to obscure the lettering, particularly in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. As before, Canada receives the most detailed treatment with updated statistics and maps of the country as a whole and by regions howing topography, population, climate, agriculture, and other special topics. For the rest of the world, the regional treatment has been rearranged and eight pages of world economic maps added. This atlas, either under the above title, or issued as the Canadian Oxford School Atlas, will enjoy the same success as the earlier editions. R. N. DRUMMOND”