150 GLACIER FORMATION. 



which it has been subjected, in consequence of 

 the water which the heat of the sun produces, 

 percolating pretty freely through the mass ;" 

 which is nearly what has been stated as to the 

 manner in which the snow of the Spitzbergen 

 glacier has been converted into the icy form in 

 which it now appears. 



It would be scarcely prudent to venture upon 

 a minute detail of ideas which have been sug- 

 gested by a partial examination of the northern 

 glaciers, and by a consideration of their peculiar 

 position with regard to that luminary to which 

 they owe their existence ; for in the arctic re- 

 gions all ordinary sources of fresh water are 

 locked up by the iron hand of perpetual frost. 

 But, if we were required to trace the glacier 

 formation to its origin, and follow it through 

 its several courses up to its present stage, we 

 should, in the first place, imagine a valley filled 

 with snow, and a temperature below the freez- 

 ing point to reign, nearly at all times, within 

 it, or at all events to preponderate throughout 

 the day, for this seems essential. As the 

 sun rises, and casts his beams on the moun- 

 tain tops, communicating its warmth to the ele- 

 vated plains, and all parts to which it can 

 gain access, it sets in motion streams of water, 

 which descend into the valley, and passing 



