64 Analyses of Books. (Jaw, 
snow, &c. from the atmosphere during a long succession of cen- 
turies, is sufficient, in the author’s opmion, to account for the 
existence of the largest ice mountains than can be supposed to 
exist- 
The icy barrier at the return of spring exhibits the following 
eneral outline. After doubling the southern promontory of 
reenland, it advances in a north-eastern direction along the 
east coast enveloping Iceland as it proceeds, until it reaches 
John Mayne’s Island, in latitude 71° N., longitude about 54°°W. 
Passing this island on the north-west, but frequently enclosing 
it likewise, it then trends a little more to the eastward, and 
intersects the meridian of London in the 71st or 72d degree of 
latitude. Having reached the longitude of 6, 8, or perhaps 10 
degrees east in the 73d or 74th degree of north latitude, it sud- 
denly stretches to the north, sometimes proceeding on a meridian 
to the latitude of 80°; at others, forming a deep sinuosity, 
extending two or three degrees to the northward, and then 
south-easterly to Cherry Island, which having passed, it assumes 
a direct course a little south of east, until it forms a junction with 
the Siberian, or Nova Zemblan coast. When the ice at the 
extremity of this remarkable bay occurs so strong and so com- 
pact as to prevent the approach to the shores of Spitzbergen, and 
the advance northward beyond the latitude of 75°, or 76°, it is 
said to be a close season. On the contrary, it is called an open 
season when an uninterrupted navigation extends along the 
western coast of Spitzbergen to Hackluyt’s Headland. It is 
about latitude 80° that the haunt of the whale occurs. The great 
object of the whaler is to get into that situation, and much dex- 
terity and intrepidity are necessary to enable him to get as 
speedily as possible into the proper fishing latitude. The loose 
ice which opposes his passage northwards has disappeared by the 
middle of June, when he has to return home. 
Il. On the Mineralogy of the Read Head, in Angusshire. By 
the Rev. John Fleming, D.D. F.R.S.E.—This district, which 
may be considered as the termination of the great valley ofStrath- 
more, consists partly of alluvial beds and partly of floetz rocks. 
The alluvial beds consist of sand and gravel, and may be seen 
along the banks of the Brothick and the Lunan, two small rivers 
which run into the sea at this place. The beds of sand are 
parallel to each other ; but they dip in some places at an angle 
of 24°. Dr. Fleming adduces this fact as a demonstration that 
the Huttonian axiom, that beds deposited at the botiom of a 
liquid must be horizontal, is not always true. 
The floetz rocks in this district are the old red sandstone, 
which skirts the Grampians on both sides, and runs from the east 
to the west sea. Dr. Fleming considers the hills of Kinnoul 
and Moncrief, the Ochil Hills, and Arthur’s Seat, as belonging 
to the old red sandstone, and constituting beds in it. If this 
opinion, which was advanced by Professor Jameson in a paper 
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