11)4 



THE GEOLOGIST. 



are the most worthy of the attention, and are best calculated 

 to excite the curiosity of the naturaUst/' We agree with the 

 author in this last opinion ; and we find him complaining, in the 

 next succeeding paragraph, that they have almost exclusively 

 fixed the curiosity ; but they are worthy of the attention, he 

 says, on account of their important history, as forming the 

 sources whence the waters of many of the largest rivers flow, 

 and the reciprocal influence which they bear upon climate, 

 and climate upon them. 



There is scarcely a Swiss traveller who has not admired 

 the glaciers of the Alps, and been inspired with a degree of 

 curiosity ; but, with regret be it said, there are few who have 

 allowed their curiosity to lead them into an examination of 

 the phenomena, to which our author directs attention. The 

 truth is, there are few who will encounter the difficulties of a 

 '^glacial tour," and follow M. Agassiz in his perilous ascents, 

 — who are prepared to surmount the barriers which surround 

 the voyager in his travels, with the apparently trifling reward 

 of a few facts. Yet, we must say with him, that much re- 

 mains to be seen which will repay the troubles of a journey, 

 and that, in proportion as this field of research is better ex- 

 plored, so will the number and value of the facts increase. 



The main object of the work appears to be the introduction 

 of a theory of glacial action of very general application, and 

 hence of a very important nature. We have elsewhere stated 

 that to accord with this theory, based more especially upon 

 observations in the western portion of the continent of Eu- 

 rope, would be to give our fullest assent to M. Agassiz's 

 views ; and we hesitate so to do, from the startling nature of 

 the admissions we must make to give the argument its 

 proper weight. We still think with him, that glaciers and 

 diluvio'glacial agency have effected many of the most import- 

 ant changes on the surface of the globe, and that to them we 

 may attribute the distribution of erratic blocks, of gravel 

 beds, and l)oulders. 



