248 CLIMATE AND PRODUCTIONS OF [chap. xi. 



ploughing up of the sea-bottom by the stranding of icebergs, and 

 by the matter transported on them. Few geologists now doubt 

 that those erratic boulders which lie near lofty mountains, have 

 been pushed forward by the glaciers themselves, and that those 

 distant from mountains, and embedded in subaqueous deposits, 

 have been conveyed thither either on icebergs, or frozen in coast- 

 ice. The connection between the transportal of boulders and the 

 presence of ice in some form, is strikingly shown by their geo- 

 graphical distribution over the earth. In South America they 

 are not found farther than 48 3 of latitude, measured from the 

 southern pole ; in North America it appears that the limit of 

 their transportal extends to 53^ from the northern pole; but in 

 Europe to not more than 40 of latitude, measured from the 

 same point. On the other hand, in the intertropical parts of 

 America, Asia, and Africa, they have never been observed ; nor 

 at the Cape of Good Hope, nor in Australia.* 



On the Climate and Productions of the Antarctic Islands. 

 Considering the rankness of the vegetation in Tierra del Fuego, 

 and on the coast northward of it, the condition of the islands south 

 and south-west of America is truly surprising. Sandwich Land, 

 in the latitude of the north part of Scotland, was found by Cook, 

 during the hottest month of the year, " covered many fathoms 

 thick with everlasting snow ;" and there seems to be scarcely any 

 vegetation. Georgia, an island 96 miles long and 10 broad, in 

 the latitude of Yorkshire, " in the very height of summer, is in 

 a manner wholly covered with frozen snow." It can boast only 

 of moss, some tufts of grass, and wild burnet : it has only one 

 land-bird (Anthus correndera), yet Iceland, which is 10 nearer 

 the pole, has, according to Mackenzie, fifteen land-birds. The 

 South Shetland Islands, in the same latitude as the southern half 

 of Norway, possess only some lichens, moss, and a little grass ; 

 and Lieut. Kendall -f found the bay, in which he was at anchor, 

 beginning to freeze at a period corresponding with our 8th of 

 September. The soil here consists of ice and volcanic ashes 



* I have given details (the first, I believe, published) on this subject in the 

 first edition, and in the Appendix to it, I have there shown that the appa- 

 rent exceptions to the absence of erratic boulders in certain hot countries, 

 are due to erroneous observations : several statements there given, I have 

 gince found confirmed by various authors. 



f Geographical Journal, 1830, pp. 65, 66, 



