428 
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION 
lower glaciated slopes to cuspate peaks. The plane 
separating these topographic types is here about 3000 
feet high. Behind many of the rocky capes the piedmont 
appears to be nearly stagnant, or receding slowly, for the 
ice either begins to thicken very gradually or is greatly 
sun-weathered. In no case is there any evidence of pres- 
sure or ^overhang' on the capes, though the crevasses 
opposite the valley glaciers show some movement, no 
doubt due to the pressure of the latter. 
In conclusion it will be of interest to trace the features 
accompanying the growth of an ice age as exhibited in 
Victoria Land. Near Cape Evans the change of a snow 
drift into a glacieret^ and of the latter into a glacier, can 
be studied in many places. The later stages depend 
greatly on the topography. If the land is flat — i.e. part 
of an old peneplain — the ice sheet merely spreads out 
in great lobes, of which examples occur near the Solitary 
Rocks on the flattened slopes north of the Taylor Glacier. 
This grows larger and spreads out laterally, and, to my 
mind, plays a protective part, as in the Great Piedmont. 
If, however, we are dealing with steep contours, the 
incipient glaciation — accompanied by water at this stage 
— cuts out couloirs and shallow cwms. The next stage 
is probably that represented by the scarp of Lister. 
Ultimately some cwms encroach on others and dominating 
' finger valleys ' are initiated. These ultimately become 
' outlet ' glaciers. 
The ^ outlet ' glaciers rise to a maximum, overriding 
the slopes and carving out what later appear as shoulders 
or benches. At this period there is true glacial erosion. 
