THE SCIENTIFIC PAPERS OF 
THOMAS HENRY HUXLEY 
ON THE STRUCTURE AND MOTION OF GLACIERS! 
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, vol. cxlvit., 1857, pp. 327-346. 
(Received and read January 15, 1857.) 
§ 1. 
IN a lecture given at the Royal Institution on the 6th of June, by 
Mr. Tyndall, 1856, certain views regarding the origin of slaty cleavage 
were brought forward, and afterwards reported in the ‘ Proceedings ’ 
of the Institution. A short time subsequently, the attention of the 
lecturer was drawn by Mr. Huxley to the observations of Professor 
J. D. Forbes on the veined or laminar structure of glacier ice, and the 
surmise was expressed, that the same explanation might apply to it 
as to slaty cleavage. On consulting the observations referred to, the 
probability of the surmise seemed apparent, and the result was a 
mutual arrangement to visit some of the Swiss glaciers, for the 
purpose of observing the structure of the ice. This arrangement was 
carried out, the field of observation comprising the glaciers of 
Grindelwald, the Aar, and the Rhone. After returning to England, 
the one in whose department it more immediately lay, followed 
up the inquiry, which gradually expanded, until at length it touched 
1 The name of Professor John Tyndal, F.R.S., stands with that of Professor Huxley as 
joint author of this memoir. 
VOL. II BR 
