Reviews — British Association Reports. 



175 



Somo of tlio ornamental work upon tlio carved bono or horn 

 articles, figured in the last plate, may evidently be classed with the 

 modern American occupation of " Whittling," and must have been a 

 great amusement on a rainy day. The wavy and zig-zag patterns 

 are similar to those seen upon early hand-made, and often sun-dried 

 pottery. 



V. — Eeport of the 29th Meeting of the British Association fob 

 THE Advancement of Science, held at Exeter, August, 1869. 

 London, 1870. 8vo. pp. 704. John Murray. 



MK. George Griffiths, the Assistant General Secretary, has dis- 

 played great diligence in bringing out the annual volume of 

 reports and proceedings so soon after the meeting. Among the 

 numerous papers of geological interest, we select one which appears 

 especially deserving the attention of our readers. 



Eeport on Ice as an Agent of Geologic change. By a Com- 

 mittee, consisting of Professor Otto Torell, Professor Kamsay, 

 LL.D., F.E.S., and H. Bauerman, F.G.S. 



We are of opinion that the work already done in the investigation 

 of the phenomena connected with ice is not sufficient to enable us to 

 prepare a Eeport showing the precise effect of " ice as an agent of 

 geologic change ;" but enough has been done to show in part the 

 manner in which the subject may be followed, for the purpose 

 of obtaining information as to the quantitative action of glaciers, both 

 as regards tlieir erosive and transporting powers. 



1st. We would select a well- 

 knowTi glacier-region, such as 

 the Alps, and there for prelimi- 

 nary investigation fix on a large 

 glacier, simple in structure, and 

 easily accessible, such, for ex- 

 ample, as the lower glacier of the 

 Aar, If not already done, the gla- 

 cier and the surrounding moun- 

 tains ought to be well sur\'eyed 

 and mapped, and its moraines 

 clearly expressed. 



2nd, The amount of rocky and 

 earthy matter forming each me- 

 dial and lateral moraine would 

 require to be determined as accu- 

 rately as possible, probably in the 

 manner illustrated by the accom- 

 panying rough diagram of an 



imaginary glacier. Diagram of a Glacier. 



Take of the medial moraine marked a a space, say, from 100 to 

 500 yards in length, and estimate the solid contents of that portion 

 of the moraine. This should be done as near as possible to the place 

 where the medial moraine is formed by the union of the two lateral 



