232 Mr Edward Collomb on the 



least 1000 square metres, was provided with one. That 

 which I examined most particularly at Hoheneck, was formed 

 of debris of earth and rock, detached from an abrupt projec- 

 tion ; they had rolled on the neve, and been carried to the 

 distance of some metres, assuming an elongated form, ana- 

 logous to that of large moraines. 



** It is easy to climb up these snows, even when the planes 

 are inclined upwards of 45 degrees ; their surface is unequal, 

 as if formed of small waves, the hollow part of which serves 

 as a support, or the step of a ladder to fix the feet. 



•' If we examine a longitudinal section in one of these small 

 glaciers, we observe that the upper part terminates in a nar- 

 row point, and of a cavernous form ; the cavity which sepa- 

 rates the neve from the ground, is everywhere upwards of a 

 metre in height by 5 or 6 in depth, in the direction of the de- 

 clivity ; while the lower part, on the contrary, is heaped upon 

 itself in the form of a sack. This arrangement is general ; 

 it arises, no doubt, from the motion of the neve, which na- 

 turally causes it to accumulate in this direction. What leads 

 me to this belief is, that, in the months of February and 

 March, a few weeks after the fall of these snow^s, when they 

 were newly heaped up by the wind, in circles similar to those 

 of Hoheneck, before the movement began to take place, the 

 melting and evaporation not yet being sufficient to produce 

 that effect, the section of the masses was of an opposite form. 

 The greatest thickness of the snow was always found, at this 

 season of the year, in the upper part. 



" This total change in the whole form of these masses, 

 produced in the interval between winter and summer, indi- 

 cates more than a natural tassement ; it evidently implies a 

 movement in the interior of the mass."* 



About the same period, the snows accumulated on the de- 

 clivities of Djcumont (1208 m.), towards the contre-fort, which 

 separates the valley of Schliffels from that of Urb^s, had ac- 

 quired such a motion, that they broke down a great number 

 of trees, especially young beeches ; other trees, of a more 



* Ed. Collomb on certain Movements observed in the Snows of the Vosges 

 before being completely melted (Comptes Rendus of the Institute, t. xxi., p. 327). 



