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where it is, if its relative position formerly had been as at present 

 Further, if this assumption were true, Walney Island forms a 

 parallel, but on a larger scale, to the bank of the Ehen, and if so, 

 it may prove that this large island is not true boulder clay, but 

 that it owes its origin to marine and fluviatile action, or as has 

 been suggested, there may have been small islands of boulder clay 

 which have been joined by drift deposits. 



In giving these particulars as to what is known or suspected 

 as to the Boulder Clay formation, it must not be supposed that a 

 tithe has been related ; merely some of the most salient points 

 have been noticed; I have also omitted all mention of many 

 matters intimately connected with the subject, such as the astro- 

 nomical theories to account for the supposed cycles of extreme 

 cold through which the earth passes, as these suppositions are 

 somewhat vague as yet, and depend upon abstruse calculations 

 that future discoveries may prove erroneous. Neither have I 

 referred to the palaeontological evidence as to the arctic condition 

 of our climate, which is of the utmost importance, and may be 

 taken as absolutely demonstrated. Nor have I given any particu- 

 lars as to the so-called erratics or huge boulders, often of enormous 

 dimensions, found scores of miles from their parent home, separated 

 it may be by high ridges and possibly lying on the summits of high 

 ground ; their evidence is of immense value in investigations as 

 to glacial action, and their position may be due to icebergs, 

 or floating ice, of the period intermediate between the so-called 

 Upper and Lower glacial epochs. Nor must we forget to make a 

 passing reference to the subject of the Antiquity of Man, on which, 

 in reference to the Boulder Clay formation, there has been such 

 fierce discussion and such angry contention. All these are subjects 

 that in themselves are sufficient for an illimitable number of 

 papers. 



In conclusion, I must apologize to you for the manner in 

 which the subject of my paper is brought before you. But I have 

 intentionally departed from the usual custom of attempting to 

 explain everything. I may have erred on the other side ; but my 

 object has been to present the various matters touched upon in such 



