M. Charpender cm the Glaciers of the Canton Vallais. 217 



where they fell in.* When, however, a block falls quite near 

 the lower end of a glacier through a fissure to the bottom, and 

 at a time when the glacier is retiring, it remains nearly at the 

 same point and in the same position which it occupied when it 

 fell. These facts, which will be confirmed by all who are inti- 

 mately acquainted with glaciers, explain to us why we find so 

 few blocks in the bottoms of valleys, or at the foot of the Alps ; 

 in other words, in all those plains which have formed the bot- 

 tom of the great ancient glaciers ; and at the same time, they 

 point out how the blocks mentioned above, which are placed 

 in so remarkable a situation, and are split up in their whole 

 length, have reached their present position. These blocks are 

 nothing else than such masses of rock which have fallen to the 

 bottom of the glaciers at the moment when the latter were 

 about to commence their retrograde movement. 



It has been well known, since the time of Saussure, that the 

 moraines of two glaciers, when they meet at a very acute angle, 

 do not become mixed. This fact explains perfectly why the 

 blocks derived from one of our large valleys do not mix with 

 those which have their origin in the neighbouring valley, a cir- 

 cumstance which cannot be explained by the supposition that 

 the transport of the blocks has been effected by a flood. 



We know that the fixed rocks which are in contact with the 

 glaciers are rubbed and polished by their agency. As they en- 

 deavour to extend themselves, they follow all the bendings of the 

 rocks, penetrate into all their sinuosities and hollows, polishing 

 their surface, even where it is directed downwards or is over- 

 hanging, an effect which could not in any degree be produced 

 by water carrying stones along with it. 



Since the glaciers proceed from the ridges of the Alps, their 

 destroying action must have lasted a much longer time on these 

 ridges than in the valleys and at the foot of the mountains. 

 There is, therefore, nothing wonderful in the traces of rubbing 

 and smoothing being displayed to a much greater extent and in 

 a more remarkable manner in the high valleys and on the high 



• This fact, which at first sight appears very extraordinary, is known to all 

 who have frequent opportunities of observing glaciers. It is completely ex- 

 plained in a memoir communicated by M. Venetz to the Swiss Society, du- 

 ing their meeting at Bern in 1816. 



