ALPINE SCULPTURE. 241 



of the earth's crust necessary to obtain the valleys and 

 the mountains will, I imagine, bring the difficulties of 

 the theory into very strong relief. Indeed an examina- 

 tion of the region from many of the more accessible 

 eminences from the Galenstock, the Grauhaupt, the 

 Pitz Languard, the Monte Confinale or, better still, 

 from Mont Blanc, Monte Eosa, the Jungfrau, the 

 Finsteraarhorn, the Weisshorn, or the Matterhorn, 

 where local peculiarities are toned down, and the op- 

 erations of the powers which really made this region 

 what it is are alone brought into prominence must, 

 I imagine, convince every physical geologist of the in- 

 ability of any fracture theory to account for the pres- 

 ent conformation of the Alps. 



A correct model of the mountains, with an un- 

 exaggerated vertical scale, produces the same effect 

 upon the mind as the prospect from one of the highest 

 peaks. We are apt to be influenced by local phenom- 

 ena which, though insignificant in view of the general 

 question of Alpine conformation, are, with reference to 

 our customary standards, vast and impressive. In a 

 true model those local peculiarities disappear; for on 

 the scale of a model they are too small to be visible; 

 while the essential facts and forms are presented to 

 the undistracted attention. 



A minute analysis of the phenomena strengthens 

 the conviction which the general aspect of the Alps 

 fixes in the mind. We find, for example, numerous 

 valleys which the most ardent plutonist would not 

 think of ascribing to any other agency than erosion. 

 That such is their genesis and history is as certain as 

 that erosion produced the Chines in the Isle of Wight. 

 From these indubitable cases of erosion commencing, 

 if necessary, with the small ravines which run down 

 the flanks of the ridges, with their little working 



