248 CLIMATE AND PRODUCTIONS OF [cHaPp. x1. 
ploughing up of the sea-bottom by the stranding of icebergs, and 
by the matter transported on them. Few geologists now doubt 
that those erratic boulders which lie near lofty mountains, have 
deen pushed forward by the glaciers themselves, and that. those 
distant from mountains, and embedded in subaqueous deposits, 
have been conveyed thither either on icebergs, or frozen in coast- 
ice. The connection between the transportal of boulders and the 
presence of ice in some form, is strikingly shown by their geo- 
graphical distribution over the earth. In South America they 
are not found further than 48° of latitude, measured from the 
southern pole; in North America it appears that the limit of 
their transportal extends to 534° from the northern pole; but in 
Europe to not. more than 40° of latitude, measured from the 
same point. On the other hand, in the intertropical parts of 
America, Asia, and Africa, they have never been observed; nor 
at the Cape of Good Hope, nor in Australia.* 
On the Climate and Productions of the Antarctic Islands.— 
Considering the rankness of the vegetation in Tierra del Fuego, 
and on the coast northward of it, the condition of the islands south 
and south-west of America is truly surprising. Sandwich Land, 
in the latitude of the north part of Scotland, was found by Cook, 
during the hottest month of the year, “ covered many fathoms 
thick with everlasting snow ;” and there seems to be scarcely any 
vegetation. Georgia, an island 96 miles long and 10 broad, in 
the latitude of Yorkshire, “ in the very height of summer, is in 
a manner wholly covered with frozen snow.” It can boast only 
of moss, some tufts of grass, and wild burnet: it has only one 
land-bird (Anthus correndera), yet Iceland, which is 10° nearer 
the pole, has, according to Mackenzie, fifteen land-birds. The 
South Shetland Islands, in the same latitude as the southern half 
of Norway, possess only some lichens, moss, and a little grass ; 
and Lieut. Kendall+ found the bay, in which he was at anchor, 
beginning to freeze at a period corresponding with our 8th of 
September. The soil here consists of ice and volcanic ashes 
* I have given details (the first, I believe, published) on this subject in the 
first edition, and in the Appendix to it. I have there shown that the appa- 
rent exceptions to the absence of erratic boulders in certain hot countries, 
are due to erroneous observations: several statements there given, I have 
since found confirmed by various authors. 
+ Geographical Journal, 1830, pp. 65, 66. 
