TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION C. 159 



" I have now been over all the most important glaciers in 

 Canterbury, and a good many of the smaller ones as well, but 

 I should say that the Murchison, for reasons which I shall try 

 to enumerate, is the best field for scientific research. To begin 

 with, its moraine is composed of different-coloured stones lying 

 in sections, the most conspicuous of which I have drawn on 

 the plan. From the many views I had of the glacier from 

 points on the hills surrounding it, I was always able to dis- 

 tinguish the particular features which I have shown, and they 

 are placed by observations taken with the theodolite from 

 fixed points. We had such bad weather while we were on this 

 glacier that I could not afford to waste any time, or I might 

 have marked the line of larger hillocks forming the medial 

 moraine between the main and the Malte Brun Glaciers as far 

 as the red band. The two semi-crescent-shaped patches shown 

 in red and burnt-sienna are most distinct, and of the form 

 represented on the tracing. The red evidently came from the 

 Cascade Glacier, for its moraine is of the same-coloured rock. 

 The burnt-sienna either came from the same place or from the 

 Baker Glacier — I think the latter, for a small quantity of the 

 same kind of rock is scattered along the northern moraine of 

 the Baker Glacier. The large medial moraine (sepia) is 

 smoother than any I have seen on other glaciers, and from 

 Station 84 to 86 a horse might be ridden along it ; the stones 

 are in general small, and there is a large quantity of mud on it ; 

 its height is from 60ft. to 90ft. ; the general appea^rance of a 

 section would be like that of a formed road — that is to say, a 

 gradual rise to a slightly flattened crown. Between this 

 moraine and the spur north of the Dixon Glacier a large 

 surface-stream often runs, finding its w^ay luider the glacier, 

 but by no fixed opening, just below station 78 ; there is also a 

 small stream on the other side of the moraine. It is, however, 

 to the first-mentioned that I would draw attention : it is 

 swift, and many perfectly waterworn stones are m its bed. 

 Waterworn stones are to be found throughout the whole length 

 of the main moraine, but, so far as I could see, only on the 

 eastern side : the first pile of them is lying just a little below 

 station 80 on the ranged line ; they are not to be found north 

 of that point — at least, I looked for but could not find any. 

 To get from the bed of the creek to the place I have indicated, 

 the stones would have to be lifted about 100ft., yet I believe 

 that is the place they came from, and I think the Dixon 

 Glacier in some manner pushes the ice up. The crevasses 

 marked by blue lines, where the clear ice ends, are drawn in 

 their correct positions. The current of the glacier sets towards 

 the east, and has caused the large landslip shown on plan. 

 The rocks on the glacier, especially along the eastern side, are 

 grooved and scratched in all directions : this is uncommon on 



