.224 MR. E. J. GARWOOD & DR. J. W. GREGORY [May 1 898, 



(10) Glacial Erosion. 



The Spitsbergen fiords have been often quoted as due to the 

 erosive action of ice. But, as we hope to show in describing 

 the structural geology of Spitsbergen, the fiords are the direct 

 consequence of earth-movements. There is no evidence of the 

 fiords having been even considerably enlarged by glacial action. 

 So far as our observations extended, they support the views of 

 those geologists — notably Prof. Bonney ^ — who have denied to 

 glaciers more than a limited abrasive power. 



(11) Glacial Periods as a Result of Epeirogenic 

 Movements. 



The theory that glacial periods have been formed as a consequence 

 ^f epeirogenic uplifts receives no support from the glacial history of 

 Spitsbergen. Throughout Kainozoic times Spitsbergen seems to 

 have been part of a great land-area. In the Pleistocene period 

 there came a depression, which appears to have coincided with the 

 maximum glaciation of the country ; for there is no trace of marine 

 shells in the late Kainozoic, except after the time of the greatest 

 extension of the glaciers. Moreover, the gradual elevation that is 

 still taking place has been coincident with a general retreat of the 

 glaciers ; for the cases of local advance are not sufB.cient to outweigh 

 the general evidence of a considerable recent decrease in the extent 

 of the Spitsbergen ice-fields. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATES XIII-XIX. 



[All the Plates, except PI. XV, fig. 1, & PL XIX, fig. 2, are reproduced, by kind 

 permission of the Council of the E-oyal Geographical Society, from blocks 

 in their possession.] 



Plate XIII. 



Kg. 1. Stratified morainic material in ice. Plough Glacier. 

 2. Contorted morainic material in ice of Eeiper Glacier. 



Plate XIV. 



Fig. 1 . Formation of crescentic moraines. Grit Ridge. 

 2. Terminal moraine, Ivory Glacier. 



Plate XV. 



Fig. 1. Moraine of Ivory Glacier. 



2. Ivory Glacier, overriding terminal moraine. 



Plate XVI. 



Fig. 1. Further advance of Ivory Glacier, overriding terminal moraine. 

 2. Westernmost view of Ivory Glacier, ice advancing. 



1 T. G. Bonney, ' Do Glaciers Excavate ? ' Geogr. Journ. vol. i (1893) 

 pp. 481-499. For a recent summary of the literature on the subject, with a 

 verdict adverse to the erosive theory, see G. E. Culver, ' The Erosive Action of 

 Ice,' Trans. Wise. Acad. Sci. vol. x (1895) pp. 339-366. 



