230 ^ SURFACE GEOLOGY. 



The Latest Glaciers. 



Having now described the various phases of glacial motion in the state, 

 referring all our observations of direction to their various classes, it may 

 be proper to introduce a related topic, upon which much might be offered. 

 I will content myself with the briefest mention possible. 



The examination of various isolated hills in the south part of the state 

 indicates that, as the closing up of glacial action, there has probably been 

 a sliding on all sides from the summit, not sufficient to score ledges, but 

 enough to push boulders to the base. It is common to find a dome- 

 shaped hill, of not necessarily large dimensions, nearly encircled by a 

 ring of boulders. The explanation of their presence, as suggested by a 

 friend, is, that the ice moved from the summit down the various sides pre- 

 cisely like the radiation of local glaciers from lofty mountain ranges. 

 The materials transported are what have once been acted upon by the 

 ordinary glacial agency. Attention has not been called to this rearrange- 

 ment by other authors, as there is nothing striking about it to suggest 

 anything different from accumulations brought in the ordinary way. 

 This action is akin to that of the local glacier, and where the hills are 

 large would be classed with them. 



I had commenced a careful study of this class of hills, when the singu- 

 larity of the presence and arrangement of the lenticular moraines began 

 to be developed, and led me to devote what time remained to that more 

 important subject. I have therefore no well digested facts to present 

 upon the later phenomena. I will only point out a few examples of them. 

 To properly set forth this subject would require a thorough topograjDhi- 

 cal survey, wherein elevations of ten feet would be indicated, as well as 

 the character of the surface in all its variations of ledge, peat, meadow, 

 forest, cleared and cultivated fields, rocky pastures, etc. 



After beginning to look at our hills in the light of this suggestion, I 

 have been surprised to discover how frequent the examples are. Such as 

 can be readily recalled will be enumerated. One particular must first be 

 specified, wherein these phenomena are scarcely distinguishable from 

 others of equal importance. They are like lateral moraines. In fact, it 

 is conceivable that the rubbish sliding down the side of a valley may fall 

 upon the edge of a moving glacier, and be pushed along afterwards so as 



