Observations on Glaciers, 345 



Zermatt, North Side of Monte Kosa, 

 lid Aucjusi 1042. 



My Dear Sir, — I arrived here two days ago by a very in- 

 teresting and unfrequented route. I mentioned in my last, 

 that M. Studer and I had agreed to visit together the valleys 

 eastward of the Great St Bernard. The Convent was our 

 place of rendezvous, and we afterwards descended to Orsieres, 

 and turned into the Valley of Bagnes. Crossing the Alpine 

 chain at the head of the valley, by the Col de Fenetres, we 

 went down to Yalpelline on the Italian side, and ascended 

 that valley quite to its origin. We then crossed to the west- 

 ern branch of the valley of Erin, by the Col de Collon or Arolla, 

 a, very striking glacier pass. Thence M. Studer went to the 

 Val d'Anniviers, and rejoins me here by the way of Visp, 

 whilst I ascended the other branch of the Eringer Thai from 

 Evolena by way of the Ferpecle glacier, and crossed over the 

 mountains to this place, by a pass higher and much longer than 

 the Col du Geant, which presents, certainly, the grandest views 

 I have hitherto met with in the Alps. 1 must not, however, 

 stop to describe, as my present object is to fulfil the promise 

 in my last respecting the structure of glacier ice. 



The internal veined or ribboned structure presented by all 

 glaciers in a greater or less degree, appears to be the only true 

 essential structure which they possess, and which, you will re- 

 collect, T described in a paper printed in your Journal for Janu- 

 ary last. The existence of granules divided by capillary fis- 

 sures, as well as of large crevasses, are equally unessential to 

 glacier structure, and subordinate to the other. Whatever 

 other result may flow from the examination of glaciers this 

 summer, by the many persons who are probably at this mo- 

 ment directing their attention to them, this, I am sure, will 

 be admitted, that the veined structure is not peculiar to some 

 glaciers, as some would maintain, nor to some years, as has 

 been alleged by others ; but that it is perfectly general and 

 systematic, having one general type or form, which is varied 

 according to external mechanical circumstances. Being then 

 the most essential and intimate part of the glacier formation, 

 Jis well as one of its most obvious and universal features (espe- 

 cially on those glaciers which are most commonly visited), it 



VOL. XXXIII NO. LXVI. OCTOBER 1842» 2 



