8 Canon Bonney — Moraines and Mud-streams in the Alps. 



was traced by Dr. Hutchison through north-east Chamba into 

 Lahoul.' The occurrence of the conglomerate has been noticed by 

 Mr. Lydekker, F.E.S., in numerous places in Kashmir.^ There 

 is no prima facie improbability, therefore, that representatives of 

 the Blaini series should occur in Chitral and Gilgit. Should sub- 

 sequent observations confirm my suggestion that the Chitral band 

 of conglomerate, red sandstone, and limestone represents the Blaini 

 series, the fact will be of great importance. The conglomerate and 

 red sandstone are striking rocks, capable of easy recognition, and 

 will afford a definite geological horizon in adjacent areas, where 

 intense metamorphism has obliterated fossil evidence. 



The Blaini beds, which in the Simla district are unfossiliferous, 

 were originally regarded as of Upper Silurian age ^ at the suggestion 

 of Dr. Stoliczka, who regarded the Muth beds* of Spiti as the 

 equivalents of the Blaini series of Simla. Subsequently the Blaini 

 conglomerate was supposed to represent the Salt Range conglomerate 

 and the Talchia boulder bed, and was considered to be of Carboniferous 

 or Permian age.^ 



The age of the Chitral limestone has now been determined by 

 Mr. Hudleston, on the evidence of well-preserved fossils ; and 

 it remains to future observers in the field to work out the 

 important question, whether or not the Chitral band of conglomerate, 

 red sandstone, and limestone truly represents the Blaini group 

 of the Simla area. If it does, as I suggest, Mr. Hudleston's 

 investigations will have the important result, not only of determining 

 the age of the Chitral beds, but of supplying an easily recognizable 

 horizon for the elucidation of a widespread area in the north-west 

 Himalayas. 



The Chitral region, I remark in conclusion, is one of the most 

 difficult in the world for detailed geological exploration. The frontier 

 tribes are not to be trusted ; the mountains are very lofty ; the 

 gorges deep and narrow, and profound precipices are of frequent 

 occurrence. 



I 



II. — Moraines and Mud-streams in the Alps. 



By Canon T. G. Bonney, D.Sc, LL.D., F.E.S. 



T has often occurred to me during my Alpine wanderings that 

 masses of earthy material containing boulders are too readily 

 identified as moraines. That the latter exist, both here and in other 

 mountain regions, no one would for a moment dispute, but deposits, 

 sometimes very closely resembling till, may be produced in other 

 ways. One is by a bergfall. The result of this in some cases, as at 

 Goldau, Plurs, near San Vito (Ampezzo road), or the Col de Cheville, 

 can be easily recognized ; but when the fallen material consists largely 



1 Loc. cit., vol. xviii, p. 90. 



- Memoirs G.S.I., vol. xxii ; Eecords G.S.I., vols, ix, xi-xv. 

 3 Olclham: Man. Geol. India, 2nd ed., p. 137. Eecords G.S. I., vol. xiv, p. 307. 

 * A red quartz conglomerate is a prominent member of tlie Muth series. Memoirs 

 G.S.I.,vol. V, p. 22. 

 ^ Man. Geol. India, p. 137 ; Memoirs G.S. I., vol. xxiii, p. 54. 



