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General View of the Geological Structure of the Alps. Ky M. 

 Studer of Berne.* (With a Section.) 



Physiognomy of the Surface. — An old theory, very generally 

 received, and still much believed at the present time, because 

 it rests on the authority of Ebel's work, represents our Alps 

 as composed of parallel chains, placed one above another, ac- 

 cording to their heights, in such a manner that the highest 

 occupies the axis of the system, and, with the exception of 

 some Cols, is covered, throughout its whole extent, with per- 

 petual snow. Some of the most frequented passes of the Alps 

 are, it is true, of a nature to favour this view ;- and the mind, 

 always more or less systematic, easily persuades itself that it 

 is the same water-shed which we pass from south to north, 

 whether we cross the St Gothard, the Brenner, or the Tanern 

 of the Tyrol. We only require, however, to cast a glance over 

 a map of Switzerland, in order to convince ourselves that the 

 case is different in reality. In many instances a traveller 

 Avould be much puzzled if he were asked on what side of the 

 central axis he was. I would instance as an example the Ma- 

 loja in the upper Engadine, where, from the Maira, which 

 flows into the Po, we arrive in a few minutes at the lake of 

 Sils, whence escapes the Inn, without taking into account the 

 source of a third stream, also near at hand, which runs into 

 the Rhine. Here, therefore, we have the true water-shed of 

 the Mediterranean and the North Sea ; and, nevertheless, tlie 

 mountain mass which supplies these sources has nothing re- 

 markable about it ; it has only a few patches of snow on its 

 summit, whereas, to the south, rise the immense peaks of 

 the Bernina, covered with glaciers, and rivalling in height 

 the loftiest elevations of the Bernese chain. A traveller pro- 

 ceeding from the Grimsel to Viesch by the glacier of Oberaai% 



• This valuable summary of the geology of the Alps is taken from the 

 Bihliotheque Universelle de Geneve, No. 75, and owes its origin to a lecture 

 given by M. Studer to the party of naturalists assembled last summer at the 

 Hospice of the Grimsel. The essay is founded on the notes taken at the 

 time by M. E. Desor, but was revised by M. Studer, who likewise furnished 

 the explanatory section. — Editor. 



