52 



The ice-front at the present time, so far as the writer knows, is 

 retreating. Twelve to fourteen years ago there was a considerable 

 advance, but for a long time previous to that the glacier had been 

 retreating, probably almost continuously. J. M. Bell estimates the 

 retrogression in quite recent times (during the last 150 years) at 

 41 chains, and there can be little doubt that on the whole the 

 glacier will continue to lose ground during the next few hundred 

 years. 



The almost complete absence of moraine on the surface of the 

 Franz Josef Glacier, especially near the terminal face, allows its 

 beauties to be seen to full advantage. There are innumerable 

 pinnacles or seracs and irregular cavities in the much-broken ice, 

 so that travel over it is difficult and in many places impossible. 



A few miles south of the Franz Josef Glacier is the Fox Glacier, 

 less visited and possibly less beautiful, but having its terminal 

 face at a still lower altitude namely.. 620 ft. above sea-level. 



P. G. MORGAN. 



THE VEGETATION NEAR THE FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER. 



The special botanical interest which the immediate vicinity of 

 the Franz Josef Glacier affords lies in the plant colonization, now^ 

 in progress, of ground left bare by the retreating ice, and in the 

 effect of a large glacier at so low an altitude (terminal face, 692 ft.) 

 in altering the altitudinal distribution of certain high-mountain 

 species. 



On the eastern side of the glacier a fairly wide belt of ice-worn 

 rock extends from the margin of the ice to the well-established 

 scrub above. At a few yards distance from the ice colonizing com- 

 mences with the establishment of patches of the moss Rhacomitrium 

 symphiodon. Decaying below, the moss rapidly forms raw humus 

 suitable for seed-germination. The rock itself (a quartzose schist) 

 is marked by many depressions, grooves, and cracks, which also, 

 invaded by the moss, are the special places where seeds germinate 

 when brought by wind or water from the scrub or forest. Plants 

 at various stages of development are fairly frequent, the advantage 

 of ultimate survival, where several grow together, being all in 

 favour of the first-comers. More than thirty species of pterido- 

 phytes and spermophytes take part in the invasion. The following 

 list includes the most important species : Hymenophyllum multifidum 

 (grows on solid rock and forms soil), Lycopodium varium, Agvostis 

 pilosa, Poa novae-zelandiae, P. Cockayniana, Schoenus pauciflorus 

 (where water lies), Earina autumnale, Carmichaelia grandi flora, 

 Coriaria sarmentosa, Metrosideros lucida, Gunner a albocarpa, Gaultheria 

 rupestris, Dracophyllum longi folium, Veronica subalpina, V. Lyallii, 

 Coprosma rugosa, Olearia avicenniaefolia, O. ilicifolia, O. arborescens, 

 and O. Colensoi. 



Between the first arrival of the plants and their ultimate union 

 into scrub there is a long period, but this is greatly shortened if 

 even a thin layer of moraine is left on the rock by the retreating ice. 



