THE VARIATIONS OF GLACIERS 255 



Borings have been made in the Hintereisferner to determine its 

 thickness. It has been completely pierced at a distance of 1,860"^ 

 from the end, where a thickness of 152.8"^ was found. This glacier 

 has retreated 94™ in the last eight years, and its velocity of flow 

 has been reduced 25-30 per cent. Hochjochferner, near by, has 

 retreated only i™, but has become somewhat thinner. Diemferner 

 deserves special attention; it has advanced 30™ in the last two years, 

 and 144"" since 1893. It has suffered a considerable change in 

 form, and in the upper regions its sides very nearly reach the top 

 of the old moraines. 



In the same general neighborhood seven glaciers have retreated 

 6-20"^ since 1891; and six others have retreated 21-90™ since 1899; 

 two of these were advancing a few years ago. One glacier observed 

 in the Stubai group is in continued retreat. In the Zillerthal the 

 Schwarzenstein glacier is retreating, but more slowly than last year. 

 The Horn Glacier has ceased to advance and has retreated 4"*, 

 while the Waxegg has advanced 14"" on the average, and at one 

 point 38™. In the Venediger region eight glaciers show recessions 

 of from 2-17™. The Krimmlerkees, which shows the greatest 

 retreat this year, was advancing last year. 



In the Glockner group two glaciers have retreated 7-1 1.5"", 

 while the Pasterze is stationary. 



In the Sonnblick group three glaciers show recessions of 5-20"^ 

 in two years. The Krummelkees, which advanced 7"" from 1899 to 

 1 901, has been stationary since then. 



In the Ankogl group two glaciers are retreating, but only half 

 so fast as last year. On the other hand, the great Elendkees has 

 changed its slight decrease of last year to a slight increase this year. 



On the whole, the retreat is more rapid this year than in pre- 

 ceding years; nevertheless, a few glaciers are still advancing. We 

 must mention that the Gepatschferner has been steadily retreat- 

 ing since 1886, when exact measures began.' 



Italian Alps. — The Marmolada Glacier has retreated very con- 

 siderably during the last forty years, though we cannot say what it 

 is doing at the moment. The upper regions show signs of dimin- 

 ishing, but the growth before 1883 was made, evident by the ice 



' Report of Professor Finsterwalder. 



