VA RIA TIONS OF GLA CIERS 379 



In the Swiss Alps where observations have been more general 

 and have extended over a longer period, we find, in 189S, twelve 

 glaciers increasing, forty-eight decreasing, seven stationary, and 

 ten doubtful ; in addition, several glaciers were measured for the 

 first time in 1895, so that we may expect results from a still 

 larger number in the future. 



The great majority of the glaciers of the French Alps are 

 decreasing in size. 



The Pyretiees. — T\\& eleven glaciers of this chain for which 

 we have results, show five increasing, five decreasing and one 

 stationary. Considerably over 200 French glaciers are now 

 under observation. 



The Caucas7{s.—A number of glaciers in this chain have 

 been observed, showing a fairly general retreat; in 1894 some of 

 the neve fields were growing larger. 



Ce?itml Asia.— The glaciers are mostly in the Pamir, the 

 Tian-schan, and the Alai mountains. They are of considerable 

 size, and appear to be pretty generally in retreat. 



Nova Zembla. — Glaciation is increasing. 



The Scandinavian ^//5.— The Norwegian glaciers do not 

 show evidence of having participated in the great retreat of 

 1 8 50-1 880. The state of the vegetation in the immediate neigh- 

 borhood of the glaciers shows that in many cases they have 

 either kept or reattained the dimensions they had a century or 

 so ago. There have been some advances and some slight recent 

 retreats ; there are no indications of any present advance.' 



The Swedish glaciers are too little known to yield any definite 



results as yet. 



The Himalaya.— '^'xx W. M. Conway reports the glaciers of 

 this range in retreat, so far as observed, with the exception of 

 the Bagrot glacier, which is beginning to advance. 



The New Zealand Alps.— Considerable attention has of late 

 been given the fine glaciers of this region. They seem to be 

 either stationary or decreasing. 



' See especially Beobachtungen lib Gletscherschwankungen in Norwegen, by E. 

 RiCHTER. Petermann's Mitth. Vol. XLII, p. 107. 



