4 



THE GEOLOGIST. 



PART I. 



The nature of Glaciers — Their occurrence and situations — Temperature and 

 circumstances under which they exist. 



" Glaciers are formed of ice, different from that produced by congela- 

 tion of water." Agassiz. 



"The surfaces of glaciers are formed of angular pieces of ice, varying 

 in size from one to three inches square, frozen together, and presenting 

 an uneven surface." Agasdz. 



"The ice at the lower portions of glaciers is always more transparent 

 than elsewhere, from its compactness." Agassiz. 



"The glaciers of Spitzbergen are formed of angular fragments ce- 

 mented together by congelation." Von Buch. 



" Large blocks of very compact and transparent ice occur near the 

 summit of Mont Blanc." De Saussure. 



" Compact ice occurs at an elevation of 10,000 feet." Zummstein. 



"Glaciers are throughout only a transformation of snow." Agassiz. 



" The transformation always takes place at the lower portion ; as the 

 first absorption of water takes place there." Agassiz. 



"The snow which fell at an elevation of 10,000 to 12,000 feet on the 

 icemeer of the Oberland Bernois, was fine and dry." Hugi. 



"The snow fell in the same state at an elevation of 7,500 feet on the 

 glacier of the Aar." Agassiz. 



" Hail is frequent at great altitudes." De Saussure. 



" Rain occurred at an elevation of 10,000 feet." Zummstein. 



" The snow of the icemeer at the foot of the Gruenhorn is saturated 

 with water to the depth of several feet." Hugi. 



" The layers of ice and snow are clearly defined in the large chasm of 

 Mount Rosa." Zummstein. 



"Alternate layers of snow and ice at Mont Blanc. J)e Savssui'e. 

 " And at the glacier of St. Theodule." Agassiz. 



" The Siedelhorn, 8,524 feet in height, has no glaciers, although its 

 summit is covered with snow during nearly the whole year." Agassiz. 



" All glaciers do not extend to the same level ; some cease at 7,000 or 

 8,000 feet, others extend to situations of an altitude of 3,000 feet only." 

 Agassiz . 



" The lower glacier of the Aar, the largest glacier of the Oberland 

 Bernois, descends to 5,728 feet." Hugi- 



" The lower glacier of Grindelwald, although of less length than the 



