288 M, Renoir on the Glaciers of the Vosges. 



But it is here in particular — that is to say, from the outer 

 side of the gorge as far as Giromagny — that the moraines shew 

 themselves in the best preserved and most unequivocal manner ; 

 as much so indeed as perhaps could be expected when we enu- 

 merate all the causes which have tended, and still tend, to de- 

 form and destroy them, — such as the melting of the ice which 

 they contained at their formation, currents of water, culti- 

 vation, &c. 



A first terminal moraine first shews itself ; it is the worst 

 preserved and least important, it is broken in many places, 

 and a fixed rock found in its interior, may afford a pretext for 

 doubt ; but three beautiful terminal moraines of considerable 

 size, nearly quite parallel and conformable to the general type 

 of modern moraines, make their appearance in the valley, like 

 three undeniable v/itnesses, before arriving at the village of Puy ; 

 that is to say, extending over a space of half a league. And 

 lastly, the northern part of Giromagny, at about 400 metres 

 from the tower, is likewise built on a great terminal moraine, 

 interrupted by the bed of the Savoureuse and by the cut of the 

 road, and which, in spite of these, as well as building and cul- 

 tivation, is still in good preservation. 



Now I think I can afford an explanation of the manner of 

 transportation and the precarious position on one of their small 

 faces, not only of the boulders deposited on the mountain which 

 overlooks Giromagny, but likewise of all those to be seen on 

 the two declivities of this part of the valley. These blocks 

 are the remains of two lateral moraines, of which that on the 

 right has been the most considerable. Taken together, they 

 form at the same height, two lines inclined towards the plain 

 as the surface of a glacier must have done, penetrating into 

 the sinuosities to be seen near Puy, precisely as we observe 

 in actual moraines. If these blocks had been transported by 

 currents, they could not have penetrated into these anfractu- 

 osities, when they are surmounted by heights transverse to 

 the current, and on which they would necessarily have been 

 deposited. It may be useful to observe, that the blocks of 

 Tete-des-planches, which are the largest and most numerous, 

 are placed in relation to the valley of Giromagny as those of 



