396 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 
by Professor Pictet, to the Helvetic Society, in 1822, the author had- 
advanced the singular fact, attested by the neighbouring inhabitants, 
that the ice forms more in summer than in winter, and conceived that 
this effect might be due to two concomitant causes ; descending cur- 
rents of air, and the cold produced by evaporation. 
{It was desirable that this fact should be confirmed by observation 
made in the winter ; a season, however, when the fall of snow pre-~ 
vented ascents to any great height. One of these natural ice caves 
visited by Professor Pictet, is situated near the crest of the Mont 
Vergy, in Faucigny ; itis called from the name of the neighbouring 
chalet, Montarguis. ‘Two countrymen of the village of Sionzier, near 
the road to this ice-cave, had the curiosity and perseverance to make 
three visits to this place during the last autumn and winter, and have 
drawn up a short notice, which has been read to the Geneva Society. 
It is as follows : 
“© The 22d Oct. we ascended to the ice-cave of Montarguis with 
some little trouble, because of the first snow, and we found very 
little ice in columns ; it had begun to melt. 
‘* The 26th November we re-ascended to the before-mentioned 
ice-cave. There we found very little ice at the bottom of the cave, 
out of which came a sort of warmth. 
** The 25th Dec. we re-ascended to the above-mentioned cave 
with much difficulty and trouble, and were almost carried away by 
an avalanche. This circumstance discouraged us, but recovering 
from our fear we ascended. There we found a moderate warmth in 
the cave, and noice; instead of which where there is ice in summer, 
there was actually water: therefore in winter it is warm in this ca- 
vern, and in summer it is cold. The roof appears cavernous ; it 
appears as if there were chimneys.”’ 
The fact, therefore, seems well ascertained, and the editor of the 
Bibliothéque Universelle observes, that the concluding remark comes 
in support of the explanation given by Professor Pictet, depending on 
descending currents of air, cooled by evaporation, whilst traversing 
considerable strata of stones constantly moist. ‘This effect can only 
take place in summer, for in winter the current of air would be 
ascending from the superior warmth of the interior to the exterior. 
The descending current of cold air was observed during the last 
summer by M. Gampert, who visited this cave, and penetrated to 
its extremity ; there he discovered a crevice, or aperture, by which 
water descended and flowed over the ice, and also a very rapid cur- 
rent of very cold air.—Bzb,. Univ. xxv. 243. 
5. Glacier of Getros, Valley of Bagne.—The glacier of Getros, in 
the valley of Bagne, has‘been noticed at different times in this journal*, 
and the ingenious and successful means adopted by M. Venetz for its 
* See Vols. v. p. 372. vi. 166. xv. 396. 
