466 NEW LAND. 



of the land : the deeply sunk depressions between lofty mountains 

 forming sheltered gathering-grounds for the snowfall occasioned by the 

 milder southerly winds, and for the drifting snow brought by the 

 northern blast. The latter plays a great part here ; for this wind it is 

 which distributes the snow according to the shelter afforded it, not only 

 on a small scale, but also on a large one. 



In connection with these few words on the present glacial covering 

 of Ellesmere and Heiberg Lands, it may be mentioned that the position 

 of the marine-terraces with regard to now existing glaciers indicates very 

 conspieuously that the glaciation during the last (in case there have 

 been several) great submersion of the land the highest sea-margin in 

 the inner part of Hayes Sound is some 600 feet was not in any 

 case of greater intensity than it is now, and that it has never since 

 that period exceeded its present intensity. 



The gneiss-granite surface at about the same height above sea- 

 level as the highest terrace, in immediate proximity to the present 

 glaciation and unaffected by disintegration, shows no roches moutonees, 

 striae, or groovings. Furthermore, no drift materials which might 

 reasonably be supposed to originate from the activity of glaciers can be 

 shown at any part of the now unglaciated land. 



