modified by the establishment there of the atmospheric 

 slope of repose in a wall from which the glacier has been 

 wit lulrawn in great measure by diminution of volume. 



It is matter now of common knowledge that, in recent 

 geological time, glaciers were much larger than they are 

 to day. Until recently it was thought that an Ice Age, 

 (or period of Ice Flood as we may call it) was not at its 

 height simultaneously at various centres, but that the 

 greatest ice volumes were attained at different times at 

 different localities. In brief, the idea of a cosmopolitan 

 origin for an Ice Age does not appear to have been held by 

 certain geologists. For example, until quite recently the 

 idea was held that certain portions of the world were even 

 now passing through their maximum phase of glaciation. 

 Thus although it was apparent that England, Europe, North 

 America, Asia, Australasia and New Zealand were all 

 passing now through an Ice Drought phase, nevertheless it 

 was thought that Greenland, Spitzbergen and Antarctica 

 were passing through their maximum phase of glaciation 

 at the present time. All the valuable observations in 

 Spitzbergen and Greenland, however, reveal the presence 

 there to day of glaciers absolutely dwarfed as compared 

 with those of a period which has only just disappeared. 

 Everywhere are the evidences of deglaciated valleys, 

 cirques, and associated profiles. Quite recently Professor 

 David has shown for Antarctica that the recent Ice Sheet 

 in that region was at one time very much thicker and more 

 extensive than it is at present. In all countries the retreat 

 of the last Ice Flood has been so recent that the very 

 scratchings and polishing* made by the ice are quite plain 

 in almost every instance. 



This being the case it is remarkable that such a fact has 

 not been seized eagerly by geologists by reason of its 

 mechanical significance. Knowing that diminution in 



