PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITH t. -q 



by one of uo long duration. This is sliowu by the brushwood that girdles the 

 tongue. There must have been a state of afiairs here not so long ago Avhich 

 hindered the growth of trees. The form of the land together with the numerous 

 boulders, sometimes arranged like a wall, makes it certain that tlie glacier lav 

 here at one time. Just how long ago can be estimated by the botanist who' is 

 familiar with the rapidity of the growth of plants in the Highlands of Brhish 

 Columbia. If it were in the Alps I should not hesitate to desci-ibe the l)rush- 

 wood-covered plain as the growth of some twenty years — it reminds one \ividly 

 of the bushes on the former site of the lower Grindelwald glacier. But the 

 luxuriant growth of the primeval forest of British Columbia suggests the idea that 

 everything grows more rapidly there than with us. Be that as it may, it cannot 

 be so very long since that advance of the glacier took place to which the shai-p 

 boundary between brushwood and forest so plainly points and which is con firmed 

 by the form and configuration of the land. It ce^-tainly belongs to our departing 

 century. But it must have been the greatest advance for centuries, for it carried 

 the ice forward to a wood with lofty trunks which, measuring at times two or three 

 meters, must be centuries old. We have thus evidence in the distant Selkirks 

 pointing to the same conclusion as in the Alps, viz.. that the glacial advances in 

 our century have been the most important for several hundred years. 



Visitors to the Illecillewaet glacier are struck by the great purity of its upi>ei' 

 surface, which is specially noted by Green. We have to do with one of those not 

 uncommon glacial tongues which have no superficial moraines. This is uo wonder, 

 for the neve has no rocky masses behind, it fills a long valley up to a height of 

 about 2,700 m. and has besides the Illecillewaet glacier to the north, an outflow to 

 the west in the Geikie glacier. The same arrangement is repeated in a similar 

 valley not far to the south, Avhere the Deville suowfield supplies both the Deville 

 and the Grand glaciers. These conditions bear witness to a peculiarly low snow 

 limit on the rainy side of the mountains. This lack of upper moraines is by no 

 means accompanied by a lack of ground moraines. On the contrary, tlie wlu)Ie 

 plain now free from ice is covered with them. Immense quantities of glaciated 

 stones lie around ; one sees the markings plainly on great boulders. This mass of 

 material must have been brought along under the ice. Near to the edge of the 

 glacier it seems as if it had been rolled with a broad roller. Broad, flat furroMs 

 ai*e seen extending in the line of movement of the ice and separated by low-arched 

 ridges. The two lateral moraines consist likewise of ground moraine material. 

 So we have in the main the same conditions as those of the Sonnblick glacier 

 which I described last year to the readers of this journal. We see again that tlie 

 formation of the ground moraines is independent of that of the upper moraiiu's. 

 To those versed in the subject this is nothing new. 



All the small glaciers that I saw about Glacier House are deeply sunk in their 

 lateral moraines, and therefore seem to be retreating. The phenomena on the 

 Illecillewaet glacier might therefore be generalized to a certain extent. Its sjiecial 

 accessibility allows us to hope that it may often be observed in the future. It was 

 therefore my intention to mark its position as observed on September 3rd, 1897. 



But unfortunately there was no coloring matter or tar to be found either at the 

 station or at the hotel. So I tried to sketch the position of the tongue in its 

 relation to the surroundings as far as was possible by counting steps and the use 

 of the compass. The result is the accompanying diagram on the scale of about 

 1:10,000. 



I reckon the length of a step on the very uneven surface at 0.7") m. I 

 determined the direction and the distance from the ice of three very marked erratic 

 boulders, Pj F^ P3 as Avell as of the Point (P^ ) where the glacial creek leaves the 

 space that is clear of ice. These are : 



ForP, P, P., P4 



Magn. North 200' 72 steps. N. 220" 26 steps. N. 200' 20 steps. N. no' 225 steps. 

 True N. 226' S4 '"• ^4^° -° '"• ^^^' 'S m- '3^' »^ '"• 



I measured the heights with one of Naudet's large pocket aneroids. They 

 are referred to the bridge over which the foot path leads to the glacier. Its height 

 was 195 m. above the station Glacier. As the weather was uncertain this estimate, 

 according to Avhich the glacial tongue would be 1,4()1 m. high, can lay no claim 

 to accuracy. 



