No. XVI. REPORT ON PETERMANN GLACIEIJ, 35] 



of collecting specimens of Silurian fossils, and of observing 

 the glacial planings and scorings which this island exhibits 

 to a remarkable degree. These scorings run uniformly from 

 the summit of the island, at its north-easl extremity to the 

 beach at the south-west end, grooving successive Layers of 

 grey and black limestone. These layers of rock lie hori- 

 zontally ; both are fossiliferous, the grey abounding in fossil, 

 corals, and molluscs, the black containing corals, but to a 

 less extent. The north-east extremity presents an abrupl 

 precipitous face, 513 feet high, showing the same arrange- 

 ment of stratified rock as on the glaciated slope, and closely 

 corresponding with the appearance presented by the opposite 

 face of Cape Tyson, one mile distant. Subsequent obser- 

 vations at Cape Tyson showed that in geological formation it 

 closely corresponded with Offley Island. 



It is manifest from the above that the results of the 

 Expedition have not been as decisive as could be wished, vel 

 I think enough has been done to justify us in concluding 

 that the Petermann Fiord is the outlet of a huge glacier 

 stream flowing probably from the eastward, to which the 

 glaciers flowing through the north-east and south-west cliffs 

 are insignificant tributaries, not adding materially to the 

 main volume of ice. 



In several particulars this glacier presented features 

 deviating considerably from the general rule, which, although 

 already touched on in this Report-, it may be as well to sum- 

 marise as follows : — 1. The absence of onward slidino- motion, 

 probably due to the immobility of the floe in the mouth of 

 the fiord, the low gradient of the glacier, and the prolonged 

 cold season. 2. Its partial subjection to tidal influence for 

 more than a mile above the snout. 3. The absence of de- 

 tached bergs below the snout. 4. The diminutive height of 

 the terminal cliff, ranging from sixteen to thirty feet above 

 the sea-level. 5. The presence of water in the fissures two 

 miles above the snout, when the mean altitude was forty 

 feet. 6. The low gradient of the glacier. 



