78 



might be deposited at a point where the sea was only a few fathoms 

 deep. In this way a simple explanation is afforded of a fact which 

 has hitherto been a source of trouble to glacialists. 



Origin of Moraitus and Moraine-like Mounds. The true 

 moraines probably originated in the same way as such like deposits 

 are forming now in Switzerland ; but the conical hillocks clustered 

 in the upper end of some of the higher valleys seem to have been 

 deposited in water, and probably were formed at a time when 

 these valleys — once fiords — were converted into straits by union 

 with other valleys having the same direction, but falling the 

 opposite way. If it be assumed that a current then set up the 

 valleys in which the deposits occur, we have all the conditions 

 necessary for the formation of the moraine-like mounds. Laden 

 bergs carried along the strait would doubtless congregate over 

 what is now the upper end of the valleys, either on account of the 

 shallowness of the water over the ridge, or because of the narrow- 

 ness of the strait at that point preventing the free onward move- 

 ment of the bergs. While thus detained, they would deposit part 

 of their rocky burthen at the upper end of the valley out of which 

 they were passing, and so give rise to the moraine-like mounds 

 under consideration. 



Generally. For the purpose of shortening this communication 

 as much as possible, I have specially avoided entering into argu- 

 ments to shew the inadequacy of previous explanations, but have 

 confined myself entirely to the task of framing another more 

 agreeable to the facts of observation. 



