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Chronicles of Science. 



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forming one continuous axis of 

 upheaval, and their consisting of 

 a series of independent masses of 

 crystalline rocks, separated by low 

 grounds formed of Triassic and 

 more recent strata, show that the 

 term " chain " is philosophically a 

 misnomer, and that the Alps really 

 consist of a group, or a number of 

 groups, of more or less independent 

 mountains. 



But this is not the only ques- 

 tion discussed in Professor Desor's 

 work. The origin of lakes, the 

 erratic and glacial phenomena of 

 the Alps, and many other points 

 of interest and importance in their 

 physical geography and geology 

 are investigated by him. We can 

 only give a short precis of his views 

 respecting the origin of the Swiss 

 and Italian lakes. 



The Alpine lakes he refers to 

 two types, namely, the "orographi- 

 cal or mountain lakes," and the 

 " excavated lakes." The former 

 lie in the midst of mountains, and 

 are one of the results of their ele- 

 vation, while the latter are situated 

 in the plain or on the borders of 

 the mountains, and their basins 

 have been excavated by water. The 

 last conclusion, coming as it does 

 from so eminent a Swiss geologist, 

 is very important, especially as he 

 considers also that the evidence 

 is sufficient to prove that the lakes 

 existed before the Glacial period. 

 The Swiss lakes were for the most 

 part " excavated by water," ac- 

 cording to M. Desor, while the 

 Italian lakes are situated in de- 

 pressions between the mountains 

 at right angles to their general 

 direction. The Brianza-See be- 

 longs to yet another category, being 

 a moraine-lake. 



Another important contribution 

 to Swiss geology has also reached 

 us during the past quarter, namely, 

 ' Geologische Beschreibung der 



