New York State Education Department 



New York State Museum 



John M. Clarke, Director 



Bulletin in 

 GEOLOGY 13 



DRUMLINS OF CENTRAL WESTERN NEW YORK 



BY 



H. L. FAIRCHILD 



Introduction : general description 



Among the varied products of glacial work the smooth mounds 

 and ridges known as clrumlins are the most singular. They are the 

 product of continental glaciers by the unique rubbing or molding 

 action of the latter as plastic solids. In their form, attitude, compo- 

 sition and relation they are not only the most remarkable and inter- 

 esting of the glacial drift deposits but in their graceful outlines and 

 smooth surfaces they are the most striking and beautiful of drift 

 forms, it not of all topographic forms of moderate size. Long 

 before the glacial origin of the drift was established these smooth- 

 outlined hills had attracted attention. They were cited as an objec- 

 tion to the theory of continental glaciation because they seemed 

 inconsistent with the supposed planing and leveling effect of the ice 

 sheet ; and even up to the present time they have remained some- 

 thing of a difficulty if not a puzzle. Although the subglacial origin 

 of the drumlins is generally admitted and their constructional genesis 

 conceded, at least in part, the precise mechanical operation in their 

 upbuilding by the antagonistic and balancing forces has not been 

 analyzed. Some of the factors in this complicated problem in 

 glacial mechanics will be indicated below. 



The State of New York may claim with confidence the possession 

 of the most remarkable group of drumlins in the world, when all the 

 facts relating to them are taken into account. This drumlin area 

 has been under the writer's observation for several years and 

 the results of the study will help, it is thought, to elucidate the 



39i 



