4 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOSTON MEETING 



of the ice and caused it to flow eastward toward Fort Wadsworth and westward 

 toward Tottenville and Princes bay, tlius assisting in piling up the immense ac- 

 cumulations of drift which are found near these localities. 



The main feature, however, of this investigation was the determination of the 

 fossils in the boulders, a work which, I believe, has never before been attempted 

 upon such an extensive scale or extended through such a long period of time. 



In the discussion remarks were made by J. C. Smock, B. K. Emerson, 

 and the author. 



In the absence of the author the next paper was read by title, as 

 follows : 



LOESS DEPOSITS OF MONTANA 

 BY N. S. SHALER 



The following paper was then presented : 



GLACIAL WATERS IN THE FINGER LAKES REGION OF NEW YORK 

 BY H. L. FAIRCHILD 



The paper was discussed by J. W. Spencer, A. C. Lane, G. F. Wright, 

 and the author. It is printed in full in this volume. 



The next paper was read by title, as follows : 



STRA TIFICA TION OF GLA CIERS 

 BY HARRY FIELDING REID 



\_ Abstract] 



A controversy between Agassiz and Forbes arose about 1841 as to the meaning 

 of the banded structure seen on the surface of glaciers, the former contending that 

 it marked the outcrops of strata, and the latter that it was a peculiaritv of glacial 

 ice, independent of stratification. 



There has always been great difficulty in deciding between these two views in 

 particular cases, it being so very difficult, and indeed in many cases impossible, 

 to follow the stratification from the neve field to the lower part of the glacier. 



For the last two summers I have given particular attention to this subject on 

 some of the Swiss glaciers. I succeeded in following the stratification on the Forno 

 glacier practically to its lower end, and saw that the outcrops always retained their 

 irregular outline, and that what has been considered the stratification at the end 

 of this glacier is something else, probably closed crevasses. 



I also examined the Miage and Brenva glaciers, on the south side of Mont Blanc, 

 which were carefully studied by Forbes. The blue bands there are beautifully 

 developed, and show without the slightest doubt that they are absolutely inde- 

 pendent of stratification. 



In unweathered sections of a glacier it is usually not very difficult to distinguish 

 between the blue bands and stratification. Their appearances after exposure to the 

 weather are frequently so nearly alike that it is quite impossible to distinguish be- 

 tween them. 



