76 EAMSAY AND EVANS.— OBSERVATIONS IN GEOLOGY. 



/. What is the state of the bare rocky cliffs described by Kane 

 in the far north of Greenland as regards ice-markings. 



m. Should new islands be discovered further to the north, what 

 are their physical characters as regards height and form. If 

 mountainous ordinary glaciers may be expected. If so, have they 

 any special characteristics, and of what kinds. 



If low or flat, is true glacier ice formed on them, and if so of 

 what thickness, and what is its general behaviour. If in such 

 cases the rocks are sometimes bare of ice, are they smoothed, 

 polished, grooved, and scratched as if by the action of glacier ice 

 that once was there, and if so in what direction do the striations 

 run, and if in more than one direction, which appears to have 

 been the prevailing one. 



n. Specially to observe the ice-foot or flat fringe of ice that 

 adheres to the shore for a time after the main masses of the ice- 

 floes have become detached from it. Note the quantity of detritus 

 that falls on its surface from the adjoining cliffs, and its subsequent 

 flotation seaward into deeper water, and the scattering of boulders 

 thereby over the sea bottom as the ice melts. 



o. Observe all icebergs of importance. Note if possible their 

 length, breadth, and probable circumference. Observe their 

 shapes, whether tabular, or serrated and peaky. If tabular 

 endeavour to determine their heights above the level of the sea, 

 for this may serve to indicate the thickness of the glaciers from 

 which they broke, since in tabular masses of ice, the mass above 

 the water bears a definite proportion to the mass submerged. 



Note if possible whether or not they are aground, and if so, in 

 what depth of water. 



Observe if any icebergs are laden with masses of moraine 

 rubbish, and if so, try to estimate its amount after the manner of 

 Scoresby. Are boulders ever seen encased in the ice far below the 

 surface. Is it probable that gi'ounding icebergs are capable of 

 attaching submarine boulders, gravel, sand, and mud, and carry- 

 ing them on as they float and melt in other areas. Is it likely 

 that grounding icebergs polish, round, groove, and striate the 

 rocks over which they grate, both on the side on which they 

 first impinge, and on the opposite side as they are forced over the 

 opposing mass of rock. 



p. In connexion with floating ice generally, endeavour to indi- 

 cate the direction of the flow of marine currents. Does floating 

 coast ice uproot and transport boulders, &c., and does it smooth 

 and striate rocks, and help to produce roches moutounees. Are 

 grounding icebergs, and other kinds of floating ice likely to con- 

 tort the soft strata of the sea bottoms on which they impinge. 



q. It is Stated by Dr. Rae that " in the Ai'ctic regions ice is 

 " sometimes by great pressure forced up on shore many feet above 

 '• high- water mark, and carries with it or pushes before it stones ; 

 " and these are left in such varied forms as to cause the belief that 

 " the work has been done by human hands. If the shores of the 

 " Arctic Sea are gradually rising, stones thus pushed up by ice may 

 *' be found at a very considerable height above the sea." Such ob- 



