286 M. Renoir on the Glaciers of the Vosges. 



a state of good preservation. It must have been a powerful 

 one ; for, notwithstanding the great sinking which the melting 

 of the ice it necessarily contained in its interior, as is the case 

 with all other moraines, must have caused, it is still of consi- 

 derable height. The centre of the village is likewise situated 

 on another moraine parallel to the first ; but the form of it is 

 less obvious. Lastly, at the north-west point of the rock which 

 bears the ruins of the Chateau de Wildenstein, are still to be 

 seen the remnants of a fourth. 



One of the reasons which led me to consider these accumu- 

 lations of stones as moraines, is. that their absolute height is 

 greater in the middle than towards the rocks which encompass 

 the valley, as is the case with all the moraines of existing gla- 

 ciers. The cause of this peculiar form is known, and has been 

 stated by the savans who have occupied themselves with gla- 

 ciers ; a form peculiar to moraines, and which is the very oppo- 

 site to that which deposits formed by rapid currents would 

 assume. Moreover, polished rocks appear along the whole 

 right bank x)f the rivulet Thur, at heights more or less consi- 

 derable, whenever the rocks have been sufficiently hard to pre- 

 serve their polish, or when they have been somewhat protected 

 by their position from the action of atmospheric agents. It 

 is true that this polish is no longer perfect, and has, conse- 

 quently, been incapable of preserving the striae ; but we have 

 noticed, that the same deterioration is observable not far from 

 glaciers, when the rocks are not very hard, or when they have 

 for a long time been left by the glaciers. We see nothing of 

 them on the south-west declivity, because, being there more 

 exposed to the action of the atmosphere, the surface is entirely 

 decomposed, covered with debris, and in a state ready to slip 

 downwards in numerous places. 



To the south of the villages of Oder en and Fellering, and 

 at a great height, are to be seen a considerable number of 

 blocks of all sizes, a little scattered on the declivity of the 

 mountain, many of the largest of which appear to support 

 themselves by a few points only on others of smaller dimen- 

 sions. I regret much that time did not allow me to study 

 their state and position nearer. 



