Parallel between Superficial Deposits, 301 



ancient glacier of the Rhone, which extends from Fort de 

 I'Ecluse to Soleure, along the eastern declivity of Jura. In 

 Piedmont, there is the moraine of Rivolri at the opening of 

 the valley of Susa ; that of Ivrea formed the ancient glacier, 

 which, descending from Mont Blanc, Mont Rose, and the 

 mountain of Coyne, filled the valley of Aoste, and extended 

 in the plain as far as Calosso. 



2. Scattered Erratic Formation (part of the Terrain Cata- 

 clystique of Necker). — It is composed of gigantic angular 

 blocks brought from the Alps, of gravel composed of striated 

 angular pebbles, and of lelim or glacier mud. These materials 

 have been brought by the glaciers at the period of their 

 greatest extension, and show that they had not long remained 

 at the place where the materials are found. In Piedmont, 

 the scattered erratic formation forms a band round the mo- 

 raines, and is seen on the hill of Superga. In Switzerland, 

 it covers all the plain from the Lake of Geneva to the Lake 

 of Constance, and penetrates into the valley of Jura. 



3. Glacier Diluvium. — This great formation is formed of 

 rolled and rounded pebbles, but never striated, coming from 

 the Alps, sometimes stratified, but without fossils. In Swit- 

 zerland this formation covers a great part of the basin, and it 

 is of great depth round Geneva and Berne. We think it is 

 owing to the fusion of glaciers at the period of their oscilla- 

 tions. The glaciers of the Alps, those of Grindelwald, of 

 Bosson, and of the Aar, produce a similar diluvium at present, 

 but upon a small scale. 



4. Ancient Alluvium with hones of Pachydermata. — In the 

 two countries this alluvium is composed of rolled pebbles of 

 moderate size, which do not come from the Alps situated in 

 front. There are found in it bones of the Elephas Primi- 

 genius, {Mastodon angustidens), Bhinoceros Tichorinus, Bos 

 Priscus, Cervus Euryceros, &c. This formation is altogether 

 aqueous, and has nothing in common with those of the glacial 

 epoch. In Switzerland, this alluvium rests on the miocene 

 molasse, and in Piedmont on marine pliocene beds. 



If a parallel is attempted to be drawn between these for- 

 mations and those of Scandinavia, Scotland, and North 

 America, it should not be forgotten, that since the glacial 



