Professor Wtgi^)Obse7'vatiom ofi the 



nn^hich these different masses are associated ; they have been 

 ^contented with viewing them from the bottom of the valleys. 

 The inferior limit of glaciers of the second kind descends even 

 c 10 3200 feet above tiiQ lev^l- of the sea, and varies according to 

 '■the sittiation of the glacier, its declivity, the rocks which sut- 

 -iround it, the depth, and the steepness of the ravine which en- 

 cicloses it, to a height of 7400 feet, that is to say, to the lower 

 eiimit of glaciers of the first kind. The Hmit of the snow, spe- 

 o'Cially considered as to its melting, is still much more uncertain. 

 a-While, on the southern dechvities, it rises -even to 10,000 feet ; 

 'it descends on the northern extremities even to the lower limit 

 of glaciers of the second kind ; it varies considerably in the same 

 s^place, according to seasons, the insulated nature of the peaks, 

 the connection of the declivities, their respective position and 

 inclination, the nature and stratification of the rocks, the accu- 

 mulations of debris, the interior heat of the earth, the vegeta- 

 -*ion, and, above all, the prevailing direction, the force, and the 

 ^'temperature of the winds ; all these cirumstances exert such an 

 influence upon the height of this line, that it is impossible to de- 

 Citermine it precisely. There, where avalanches and violent tem- 

 ^ pests have not formed extraordinary accumulations, it may hap- 

 -|)en in the month of August, that, at a height of 12,000 feet, 

 "^th^re is not a trace of snow to be found." ^^ JJb dvods ;8svl^ 

 J" Concerning the lower limit of the glaciers of the jfirst kind, 

 iithe alpine excursions made by Mr Hugi during many years 

 have shown that it not only does not vary in the same place, 

 <but that it varies little from one place to another, and that it is 

 ^1)ut little affected by the situation of the declivities and other 

 «>€ircum stances which have been mentioned. Observations made 

 'An different 'parts of the Bernese chain, show that it is towards 

 ^^7600 feet of elevation, where the permanent glaciers of the first 

 kind commence, and that at 7700, we find ourselves wholly in 

 sthe region of these glaciers. Among the Pennine Alps, this li- 

 sittitJ appeaf s to be a little more elevated, as we find it at 7800 

 '4eet-t)n the Gries, and the ridge of the valley of Binnen, moun- 

 *tains situated at the eastern extremity of the chain of the Val- 

 £|jJs,2S0Bhi.;2 fi:riw ^noUBiL ijjo ^niJiti(. ^noti<-. jg ,owj 



•''^e in^?teire Gorimi^ation of the i(?e, ttf f he ^ai^rs of tte^ttro 

 kinds, offers materials for numerous observations. The fol- 



