106 Mr. H. H. Howorth on 



separated geological eras, uniformly testify that a warm 

 climate has in former times prevailed over the whole globe. 

 From palaeontological science no support can be obtained 

 for the assumption of a periodical alternation of warm and 

 cold climates on the surface of the earth" (op. cit. Vol. XII.,. 

 531). Again, he says: "A careful investigation of the 

 structure of the different sedimentary strata leads to the 

 same result. We are now very well acquainted with the 

 origin and nature of the various strata, the substance of 

 which has been supplied by the destructive operation of 

 glaciers on the surrounding and subjacent mountain masses, 

 and we can point out certain marks by which these strata 

 may be distinguished from other non-glacial deposits. In 

 these last one very rarely meets with any large stone 

 boulders, which have fallen from some neighbouring cliff, 

 and been imbedded in sand or clay, either directly, and if 

 so close to the place where originally found, or else after 

 having in the spring been moved a greater or less distance 

 by river ice. In glacial formation, on the contrary, as one 

 may gather from the study of the strata in Scandinavia that 

 belong to the glacial period, erratic blocks transported on 

 icebergs to far distant regions play an important part. If a. 

 climate similar to that which now prevails in the Arctic 

 regions has several times during various geological eras 

 existed in the neighbourhood of the Pole, one has reason 

 to expect that sandstones enclosing large boulders should 

 often be met with in these tracts. But this is by no means 

 the case, though such formations, if they exist on a large 

 scale, could hardly escape observation. 



" The character of the coasts in the arctic regions is 

 especially favourable to geological investigations. While the 

 valleys are for the most part filled with ice, the sides of the 

 mountains in summer even in the 80th degree of latitude, 

 and to a height of 1000 or 1500 feet above the level of the- 

 sea, are almost wholly free from snow. Nor are the rocks- 



