RAMSAY AND EVANS. — OBSERVATIONS IN GEOLOGY. 77 



servations are valuable, and note ought to be taken as to mounds of 

 shore gravel having been pushed landward by the pressure of sea 

 ice packed and forced up above high-water mark. It is possible 

 that such observations may throw some liglit on the ridges known 

 as Eskers in Ireland and Kames in Scotland. These are long 

 mounds of gravel believed to be intimately connected with the 

 Glacial Epoch, and by some supposed to have been formed on the 

 shores of the icy sea of that period. 



r. In connexion with the subject of sea coasts it is of importance 

 to observe if there are traces or lines of raised sea-beaches running 

 in a terrace or in lines of terraces at different heights more or 

 less parallel to the present sea-shores. Also whether or not they 

 contain sea-shells and other marine remains. Also at what height 

 above the present sea-level each individual beach or terrace lies. 

 Note also, if possible, the direction from w4iich shore pebbles may 

 have come and larger boulders, and if they have any relation to 

 prevalent winds and marine currents. 



s. A good deal has been written about the occurrence of 

 meteorites (meteoric iron) in Greenland. Should such be observed, 

 their position and size should be noted, and if possible, specimens 

 collected. 



2. Instructions for making Observations on, and 

 Collecting Mineralogical Specimens. By Prof. 

 N. Story Maskelyne, F.R S. 



A. — Minerals and Rocks. 



In offering advice as to the mode of setting about collecting 

 minerals and mineralogical facts in a land that is peculiarly rich 

 in rare and curious mineral species, while it is clad in an iron- 

 mail of ice, one cannot lose sight of the fact that the special 

 experience which the Arctic voyager must soon acquire will fit 

 him better than any instructions for the tasks of exploration and 

 collecting. Nevertheless some notice of the sort of localities that 

 may repay research, and of the observations that it would be 

 worth recording, may not be out of place, while a short summary 

 of the mineral objects that are to be looked for, and of the modes 

 of determining something about their characters are of the first 

 importance. The instructions on the subject of geology will 

 certainly impress on the scientific observer the great importance 

 of carefully noting and laying down in profile, and where possible, 

 in plan, all important lines of mountain chain or protruding rock, 

 and of collecting specimens of every distinct kind of rock, and 

 further, of fastening to or carefully enrolling with all specimens, 

 labels that can hardly err in the fulness with which they state 

 the circumstances and the position of the spot at which they are 

 obtained. To the mineralogist rock specimens have a special 



