THE 



JOURNAL OF GEOLOGY 



OCTOBER-NOVEMBER, 1894. 



GLACIAL STUDIES IN GREENLAND. 



During the past summer it was the privilege of the writer to 

 visit Greenland as geologist to the Peary Auxiliary Expedition, 

 and to study some of the glaciers of its middle and northern 

 portions. A sketch of the observations made, so far as they are 

 deemed worthy of publication, and a discussion of their bearings 

 will be attempted in a series of articles to which this is introduc- 

 tory. While the itinerary form, which is quite the fashion in 

 Arctic literature, will not be followed, an outline of the journey 

 may perhaps give some glimpses of Arctic conditions that will 

 be of interest, and possibly of service, to those who have occasion 

 to consider the ways and means of studying in the far north. 

 Incidentally, it will be convenient to introduce some miscellane- 

 ous observations made on the way, which would not readily find 

 place in a formal description or discussion of the glaciers. 



Provision was made for the expedition by Lieutenant Robert 

 E. Peary, Civil Engineer, U. S. N., last }^ear, before leaving the 

 United States orf his third trip to Greenland. Its primary object 

 was to communicate with his party, with the alternative purpose 

 of supplementing its outfit, if necessary, should it remain, and of 

 offering it a means of return, should its work be finished. A 

 collateral object was to do such independent scientific work in 

 geographical, biological, ethnological, and glacial lines as time 

 and conditions might permit. 



The expedition was organized and directed by Mr. Henry G. 

 Bryant, Secretary of the Geographical Club of Philadelphia, whose 

 Vol. II., No. 7. 649 



