46 David Milne-Home on Ancient Glaciers. 
Notes on Ancient Glaciers made during a brief Visit to 
Chamouni and neighbourhood, in September 1860. By 
Davip MiLNnE-Homg, Esq. of Wedderburn. 
1.— Valley of Chamouni. 
1. On reaching Inn of Montanvert, situated on left side of 
Mer de Glace, and about 240 feet above it, first thing noticed, 
was accumulation of granite blocks, about 100 to 150 feet 
higher up hill, resting on schistose rocks. That these blocks 
transported thither and deposited without vol evident 
from their position on slope of hill. 
2. Whilst descending to glacier, observed the rocks on both 
sides of valley smoothed and scratched, at a height of about 
250 to 300 feet above glacier. The scratches mostly horizon- 
tal, but some inclined downwards towards north. 
3. On reaching glacier and crossing it to the Chapeau, saw 
old lateral moraines on each side. Examined more particularly 
those on the right bank. There found two very distinct, 
evidently formed at different periods. ‘They were both more 
or less covered with vegetation; the largest, next the valley 
side, more so than the other. The former was about 120 feet 
above level of glacier, the other about 90 feet—both evidently 
composed of blocks of stone, none very large, and most of 
them pretty well rounded. There was an entire absence of 
stratification or arrangement according to size. 
The relative position of the phenomena described in fore- 
going paragraphs shown by sketch in fig. 1. 
Was at first rather at a loss to explain how these lateral 
moraines formed. That they were formed by glacier when its 
level much higher than at present, had no doubt. The conclu- 
sion I came to was, that the materials consisted of debris from 
the mountains forming the sides of the valley, brought down by 
streams, and rains, and frost. These accumulate between the 
steep sides of the valley and glacier. At place inspected by 
me, this interval is in breadth from 200 to 350 yards. If the 
glacier were to rise and swell by increased cold beyond 
