GLACIATED SURFACES. 751 



Coast Range. Meanwhile the Hassler was to 

 go on a dredging expedition to the island of 

 Juan Fernandez, and then proceed to Valpa- 

 raiso, where Agassiz was to join her a fort- 

 night later. Although this expedition was 

 under the patronage of the Coast Survey, the 

 generosity of Mr. Thayer, so constantly ex- 

 tended to scientific aims, had followed Agas- 

 siz on this second journey. To his kindness 

 he owed the possibility of organizing an ex- 

 cursion apart from the direct object of the 

 voyage. This change of plan and its cause 

 is told in the following extract from his gen- 

 eral report to Professor Peirce : — 



" April 27th. While I was transcribing 

 my Report, Pourtales came in with the state- 

 ment that he had noticed the first indication 

 of an Andean glacier in the vicinity. I have 

 visited the locality twice since. It is a mag- 

 nificent poHshed surface, as well preserved 

 as any I have ever seen upon old glaciated 

 ground or under glaciers of the present 

 day, with well-marked furrows and scratches. 

 Think of it ! a characteristic surface, indicat- 

 ing glacier action, in lat. 37° S., at the level 

 of the sea ! The place is only a few feet 

 above tide level, upon the slope of a hill on 



