GLACIAL STUDIES IN GREENLAND. 675 
I think, with little doubt representative of the real fact in part, 
but it was also certainly true that the ice extended below the 
upper edge of the talus slope. The true bottom of the glacier 
was below its apparent bottom. I succeeded at points in trac- 
ing the ice under the talus at least half way down the slope. 
where the ice was uncovered under the talus its layers were 
curved upward at high angles, due I suppose to the relief of 
pressure above and to the resistance of the talus in front ( Fig. 
48). The concealed ice was less thickly set with débris than 
Fic. 48—Diagram intended to illustrate the probable curvature of the layers of 
ice under the talus in front of the glacier. 
the layer above. If there were no other instances than this it 
might be questioned whether the pedestals on which so many 
of these northern glaciers seemed to rest were not illusions 
induced by misinterpretations of slopes of superficial talus derived 
from special débris-burdened layers of ice that happen to come 
out at some distance above the true glacial base, but the plat- 
forms of débris left by the retreats of some of the glaciers 
seem to show that there were true pedestals in some cases at 
least. 
Inspection of the face of the glacier, as shown in Fig. 47, 
shows that certain of the layers of ice jut out over others very 
sharply. This was found to be a very common phenomenon, 
not only here! but im most ot the glaciersMor the, fecron., Tt 
gave the impression, at first sight, that the upper layers had 
been thrust forward over the lower ones. If this were the true 
interpretation, it would be a matter of radical value for it would 
indicate a mode of motion that has not, I believe, been recog- 
nized as a function of glaciers. It became, therefore, in the 
highest degree important to ascertain whether such was the real 
nature of the phenomena, or whether the impression was an illu- 
