ALPINE SCULPTURE. 243 



I have hitherto confined myself to the consideration 

 of the broad question of the erosion theory as compared 

 with the fracture theory ; and all that I have been able 

 to observe and think with reference to the subject 

 leads me to adopt the former. Under the term erosion 

 I include the action of water, of ice, and of the atmo- 

 sphere, including frost and rain. Water and ice, 

 however, are the principal agents, and which of these 

 two has produced the greatest effect it is perhaps im- 

 possible to say. Two years ago I wrote a brief note 

 ' On the Conformation of the Alps,' l in which I ascribed 

 the paramount influence to glaciers. The facts on 

 which that opinion was founded are, I think, un- 

 assailable ; but whether the conclusion then announced 

 fairly follows from the facts is, I confess, an open 

 question. 



The arguments which have been thus far urged 

 against the conclusion are not convincing. Indeed, 

 the idea of glacier erosion appears so daring to some 

 minds that its boldness alone is deemed its sufficient 

 refutation. It is, however, to be remembered that a 

 precisely similar position was taken up by many ex- 

 cellent workers when the question of ancient glacier 

 extension was first mooted. The idea was considered 

 too hardy to be entertained ; and the evidences of 

 glacial action were sought to be explained by reference 

 to almost any process rather than the true one. Let 

 those who so wisely took the side of ' boldness ' in that 

 discussion beware lest they place themselves, with 

 reference to the question of glacier erosion, in the 

 position formerly occupied by their opponents. 



Looking at the little glaciers of the present day 

 mere pigmies as compared to the giants of the glacial 

 epoch we find that from every one of them issues a 

 1 Phil. Mag. vol. xxiv. p. 1GD. 



