242 



PLATE CXXIL THE SIDE OF THE GLACIER. 



From a photograph taken by R. W. SKELTON (Sk. 302, ^-plate), Dec. 9, 1903 ; taken 

 in the lateral moraine of Ferrar Glacier, abreast of Knob Head Mountain, at 

 the meeting of ice-streams from the W. and N.-W. arms. (Map B.) 



The sheer ice-walls which bound the glaciers of South Victoria Land show 

 the ice receding as usual from the banks. The intervening channels often contain 

 frozen ponds, which in some cases are more than a mile in length. 



The structure of the ice in such a cliff as this has remarkable varia- 

 tions. The uppermost 40 feet is normal vesicular glacier-ice, free from rock 

 debris. Below this are several dirt-bands, and amongst them other bands, up to 

 10 feet thick, of perfectly clean ice, as clear as rock crystal. As this does not 

 show the granular structure of glacier-ice, Mr Ferrar believes that it may be due to 

 intrusive thaw- water. 



See Ferrar, Nat. Hist. Rep., vol. i., p. 82; and, Scott, Voyage of the 'Discovery,' 

 vol. ii., p. 237. Compare also this picture with Plate XLV1I., and note the 

 description given there of the melting effected during the summer months. The 

 description applies particularly to the ice of these great glaciers on the western side 

 of M'Murdo Sound. 



Note also the figure at the foot of the cliff, by which a better idea of its height 

 may be obtained. 



