848 BR J. H. HARVEY PlRlE ON 



Another structure visible at the same time and place as these ice-grains gave 

 rise to an appearance reminding one of the surface of a section of honey from an 

 ordinary bar-frame hive, although on a larger scale and not so regular. In other 

 words, the ice-face presented a series of shallow depressions separated by definite 

 ridges. These ridges and depressions were quite independent of the glacier grains, 

 the lines of junction between the grains crossing the ridges and depressions indis- 

 criminately. The size of this set of markings was larger than that of the grain. 

 This pitted appearance of the ice had also disappeared on my return the subsequent 

 day, the surface then being more like that of a sheet of emery paper somewhat 

 magnified. On breaking a block of the ice which had shown this appearance, I was 

 unable to obtain it on any of the fresh surfaces thus produced, and as no opportunity 

 occurred again of witnessing it or experimenting, I was left in doubt whether it 

 was a melting phenomenon or due to the manner in which the ice split off when 

 breaking on a large scale. As I have not come across any mention of such an 

 appearance, I have thought it worthy of mention in the hope that further observation 

 may clear up its nature. 



The only other place where glacier grains were ever observed was on one occasion 

 on some fallen blocks at the Half- Moon Glacier. They were not very distinct, 

 but seemed all to be on a much smaller scale than those figured above, few exceeding 

 ^ inch in diameter. 



Ice-Cliffs and Sea-Level. 



The situation of the terminal ice-cliffs in relation to the sea-level is one of 

 considerable interest. During the winter it could not be precisely ascertained owing 

 to the presence of the snow talus, but it was suspected to be, at all events, not far 

 below high-water mark on account of the position of the tide cracks. The main 

 crack was always at the ill-defined junction between the land-floe and the snow talus ; 

 below this there were usually several subsidiary cracks, and occasionally these ex- 

 tended some distance seawards. When this was the case subsequent examination 

 in summer when the floe was gone revealed a beach or a series of skerries showing 

 up at low tide. When the land- floe had gone in summer, it was found in Scotia 

 Bay that the foot of the ice-cliff's was situated just about high-water mark. The 

 cliff was washed by the sea only at full tide ; at low water a beach of varying width 

 was exposed, along which it was possible to travel to examine the clifts, and on which 

 in winter the snow talus had accumulated. 



The conditions in Wilton Bay were precisely similar and, judging from the 

 winter appearances, I should say hold good for all the glaciers on the south side 

 of the island. 



On the north side, at the head of MacDougall Bay (and possibly also at the heads 

 of Brown Bay and the two coves between Watson Peninsula and Cape Vallavielle), 

 the ice-sheet comes further down, the sole never being exposed, as the clifl" is 



