288 On the Glaciers and Climate of Iceland. 



ones, such a supposition is at once precluded by their great 

 size. Also on the east coast, especially at Vapnafiord, among 

 the rolled masses of basalt lying on the shore, there are to be 

 found pieces of granite, gneiss, mica-slate, and talc-slate ; 

 and, of these rocks, it can be affirmed with certainty, that, in 

 no part of Iceland ai'e they to be found in situ. In reply to 

 particular inquiries, it was stated by the natives, that, on the 

 arrival of the drift-ice, stones frozen in along with it are to 

 be seen. 



This observation, which deserves to be followed out more 

 particularly, throws a clear light on the manner in which the 

 glacial markings, formerly mentioned, have been produced ; 

 and also, on the dispersion of erratic blocks, especially in 

 Northern Gei'many. 



Considering the direction of the current, we are inclined to 

 suppose that the boulders occurring on the north-east coast 

 of Iceland have been derived from Spitzbergen ; since Jan 

 Mayen is, so far as we are aware, entirely of a volcanic cha- 

 racter. Were we, however, to suppose that they have come 

 from Greenland, the distance of which from Iceland is less 

 than that of Spitzbergen, yet this journey far exceeds, in 

 length, that which the blocks of Northern Germany would 

 have required to perfoi'm in coming, for instance, from 

 Southern Sweden to the foot of the Hartz Mountains. But, 

 if those boulders have come i*eally from Spitzbergen, their 

 passage with the ice must have been as long as that of the 

 Scandinavian ones, which have been deposited on the Baltic 

 plains, would have been, if, instead of taking the limited 

 course which they actually have taken, they had proceeded 

 from the coast of Schonen to the Pyramids of Egypt. Since, 

 then, the distance of Iceland from the nearest primary moun- 

 tains is comparatively so great, the small dimensions of the 

 erratic blocks which occur in this island need not appear 

 astonishing. 



The two principal currents, the tropical and the ai'ctic, 

 mentioned in what goes before, produce a very sensible in- 

 fluence on the climate of Iceland. It is perfectly clear, in- 

 deed, that the temperature of the air must be modified by 

 that of such extensive masses of water. The temperature 



