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SUPPOSED GLACIATION OF BRAZIL.
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phenomena, stated that no true glacial boulders had been seen in the inter-tropical regions.[1] The English botanist, George Gardner, gives the correct explanation of the formation of the soils about Rio.[2] Burmeister, who traveled extensively in Brazil, is of the opinion that the facts appealed to by Agassiz in support of his glacial hypothesis for Brazil are to be explained otherwise.[3] Liais' adverse opinion has already been cited. Dr. Guilherme S. de Capanema, a Brazilian geologist, thoroughly disbelieves in the theory of Brazilian glaciation.[4] Professor James Orton's papers in which he controverts the glacial hypothesis in so far as it relates to the Amazon valley have been cited, while Hartt himself recognized the mistake of Agassiz in that region.[5] Mr. James E. Mills saw some of the best examples of the supposed glaciation at Rio de Janeiro and spent more than a year in the highlands of Brazil; his opinion regarding what he saw has already been quoted. Professor Derby in speaking of the possibility of glaciation omits all reference to the phenomena upon which Agassiz and Hartt placed so much stress, namely, those in the mountains about Rio, though to my knowledge, he is perfectly familiar with those phenomena.[6]

  1. ↑ Trans. Geol. Soc. London, 1842, 2nd Ser. VI., 427.
  2. ↑ Jour. Roy. Hort. Soc., 1846, p. 191.
  3. ↑ Description Physique de la République Argentine par Dr. H. Burmeister, Paris, 1876, II., 393.
  4. ↑ Decomposição dos penedos do Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, 1866; Revista do Instituto Historico do Brazil, 1866, XXIX., 421.
  5. ↑ Am. Jour. Sci., 1871, 295.
  6. ↑ In the following references more or less doubt is expressed regarding the glaciation of Brazil:
    The Highlands of Brazil, by Richard F. Burton, London, 1869, I., 39, II., 218.The Amazon and Madeira Rivers, by Franz Keller, New York, 1874, 47.Fifteen Thousand Miles on the Amazon, by Brown and Lidstone, London, 1878, 42.Brazil, the Amazon and the Coast, by Herbert H. Smith, New York, 1879, 634.Glaciers, by Shaler and Davis, Boston, 1881, 47.A Geographia Physica do Brazil por J. E. Wappeus, Rio de Janeiro, 1884, 55.Pre-historic America, by the Marquis de Nadaillac, edited by W. H. Dall, London, 1885, 18, foot note.Report of Coffee Culture, by C. F. Van Delden Larene, London, 1885, 24.Le Pays des Amazones par F. J. de Santa-Ana Nery, Paris, 1885, 36.A Year in Brazil, by H. C. Dent,
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