THE VARIATION OF GLACIERS. IV 221 



The glaciers of Iceland bearan to advance at the end of the 

 seventeenth century, at which time they were much smaller than 

 at present. This advance continued, interrupted about the mid- 

 dle of the eighteenth century by a hesitating retreat in the case 

 of certain glaciers. After this, most of the glaciers made an 

 extraordinary advance ; a veritable invasion of the ice took 

 place, which continued during the larger part of the nineteenth 

 century. After this advance there was a general retreat, though 

 some glaciers are still advancing. The retreat began earlier in 

 the north (1855 to i860) than in the south (1880). It is less 

 marked than the preceding advance. 



There is a large volcano on Jan Mayen Land on which are 

 nine large glaciers. A study of the records of whalers and 

 explorers seems to show that these glaciers have advanced since 

 the end of the seventeenth century. 



REPORT ON THE GLACIERS OF THE UNITED STATES FOR I898 1 



The end of the Eliot glacier on Mount Hood, Oregon, is 

 supported by its lateral moraines, and is much covered with 

 debris. On each side, one or two hundred yards from the end, 

 the ice seems to be breaking through these moraines. This may 

 be due to stream erosion, washing out the moraines and thus 

 removing the support for the ice ; or it may mean the beginning 

 of an advance [H. D. La?igille). 



Professor Russell has recently published a* most interesting 

 account of the glaciers of Mount Rainier. 2 He describes the 

 characteristics of a system of glaciers on a conical peak. Start- 

 ing in general from a common neve region the glaciers separate 

 into distinct streams lying in deep channels. The V-shaped 

 intervals between them are occupied by smaller glaciers, which 

 he has called inter-glaciers. He thinks the amphitheaters at the 



1 The synopsis of this report will appear in the Fourth Annual Report of the Inter- 

 national Committee. The report on glaciers of the United States for 1897 was given 

 in this Journal, Vol. VI, pp. 475, 476. 



2 The Glaciers of Mount Rainier, Eighteenth Annual Report of the U. S. Geol. 

 Surv., pp. 349-423. A preliminary note on Professor Russell's observations 

 appeared in Variations of Glaciers, II. 



