346 THE LIFE OF JAMES D. FORBES. [CHAP. 



huus, from whence they visited one of the glaciers which 

 descend from the snowy range of the Folgefond. 



Forbes found the Bondhuus Brfe (or glacier) in all 

 respects similar to those of Switzerland and Savoy, 

 showing, like most of the latter, Tinmistakeable signs of 

 former extension, in the form of ancient terminal mo- 

 raines. After examining it, they proceeded to cross the 

 lofty snow-fields of the Folgefond to the head of the 

 Sor-fiord. 



' I was naturally curious/ he writes, ' to examine what 

 I had seen so often described, as these Norwegian pla- 

 teaux. The snow, fortunately for us, was of very good 

 consistence. Probably new snow does not frequently fall 

 in summer, for the general level is but little above the 

 snow line. It is, for the most part, in the state of neve, 

 a term applied to the stratified slightly compressed snow 

 of the higher Alps, before it is condensed into the crys- 

 talline ice of glaciers. The stratification here, however, is 

 not particularly well marked. This neve moulds itself 

 to the greater or less inequalities of the plateau, forming 

 large crevasses here and there ; and the general form 

 of the ground is trough-shaped the two edges of the 

 fond (east and west) being commonly higher than the 

 centre, and the centre or trough inclining gently to 

 the north. One of the first objects I saw was a small 

 but true glacier of the second order, reposing on a rock 

 having apparently a very moderate slope near the middle 

 of the fond, and connected with one of the higher domes 

 of snow to the N.E. It appeared perfectly normal, with 

 intersecting crevasses (owing to the convexity of the 

 surface on which it moved), somewhat like the dwarf 

 glaciers of the Trelaporte at Chamounix. I think that bare 

 rock, or at least ground where snow melts, may be con- 

 sidered as almost a sine qud non for a true glacier, whilst 

 a neve may or may not be so accompanied. Wherever 

 we have this, with a good feeder or snow valley, and not 

 too great an elevation, and even a very moderate slope, 

 there a glacier forms as a matter of necessity. I aftn-- 

 wards saw many such in connection with the Folgefond. ' 



