88 ICE RECESSION IX NEW ENGLAND 



previous retreat, which was rather slow. Sauramo does not give 

 an explanation of the case. It seems evident that the lack of 

 coarse material indicates absence of strong currents of the ice 

 water. In other words, there was at no time in the summer 

 rapid melting. Warm sunny days must have been few or none, 

 and the temperature vers' even. On the other hand, the melting 

 must have lasted for several months, since the sedimentation was 

 great. The fact that the ice edge on the whole did not withdraw 

 under these circumstances seems to prove that the nourishment 

 of the ice was much greater than usual. This is an interesting 

 case of equilibrium between a great supply of ice and considera- 

 ble melting at low temperature. The clay probably does not 

 indicate short summers and long winters, as supposed by Bruck- 

 ner (1921, p. 57; cf. our p. 3). 



