378 GEOLOGICAL MEMOIRS. 



this must be added the formation of ice floes by the uniting together 

 of many icy fragments floating in the northern seas, the effects of 

 which may be observed annually upon our coast, and which must 

 have produced very important results even where the temperature 

 was much less excessive than on the northern shore of Denmark 

 and in Greenland. 



If these explanations are accepted, it may be understood in what 

 manner the material broken away from any spot may be collected 

 into gravel-heaps, and deposited at no great distance. 



One other phenomenon requires to be considered, and it is one 

 which Bohtlingk has alluded to, and which seems to me important. 

 On the northern side of the Scandinavian mountain masses towards 

 the White Sea, the vertical side of the rocks (the lee-side) is not 

 towards the south, but in the contrary direction. It is here the 

 beating of the waves of the Icy Sea that has produced the result in 

 question, just as further to the south the East and North Sea have 

 acted : and Keilhau has already remarked with regard to this, that 

 one can now no longer assume, according to Sefstrom's theory, 

 that the flood of stones was carried down from the North Sea ; since 

 to account for this appearance the point of starting must have 

 been some spot in northern Norway. According to my view, we 

 may understand also the reason why the scratches in the higher 

 districts of Norway exhibit no regularity, but are directed to all 

 parts of the compass. It was the first sea bottom that was 

 elevated out of the great northern sea, and the beating of the 

 waves would be first in one direction, and then, perhaps, suddenly 

 in the contrary direction. 



If we compare the direction of the scratches in those places 

 where we can distinctly make them out, they are seen to have dis- 

 tinct relation to the direction of the line of coast bounding the 

 neighbouring seas. This is manifest along the whole of the coast 

 line of the Cattegat, and, indeed, throughout Sweden and Norway, 

 and no one can help observing it with reference to the great bays 

 between the two countries ; so that it is only left to choose whe- 

 ther it is more probable that the movement took place from the 

 land towards the bay, or from the bay towards the land. I have 

 already stated my reasons for believing that the latter was the case. 



I ought here to recognise the possibility that observations made 

 with regard to other and far more extensive Scandinavian rocks 

 may not confirm the view I have taken on this subject. But I have 

 had the opportunity of studying very carefully several hundred 

 separate instances of the phenomena we are considering, and am 

 satisfied that in the middle of Sweden this view is satisfactory ; and 

 it only remains for me to show in what way a true flood of water 

 has effectually acted in the formation of gravel and sand-hills. I 

 have already explained this with regard to Denmark. 



I have before shown, also, that the middle of Sweden every- 

 where offers indications of having been formerly covered by the 

 ocean, and the more elevated land of Smaaland to the south has 

 formerly existed as an island detached from northern Sweden by 



