The Scottish Naturalist. 203 



occupied the south of P" ranee along with northern and arctic animals, 

 such as Reindeer and Musk-sheep. The African forms disappeared 

 finally at this time from the European fauna, and Palceolithit man 

 seems in like manner to have vanished, for his relics have never yet 

 been found in any post-glacial deposit in Europe. 



The Post-Glacial Period. — In early post-glacial times British 

 area seems to have stood pretty much at same level as now ; but 

 Spitzbergen and Southern Scandinavia were submerged to a depth 

 of 200 and 300 feet or thereabout. Climate genial ; augmentation of 

 Gulf Stream, and immigration of southern species into northern 

 seas. In middle post-glacial times Scandinavia was re-elevated, 

 and the British islands became continental. Great forest-growth 

 under genial climatic conditions. In late post-glacial times climate 

 becomes deteriorated, and British area is insulated. Land of some- 

 what less extent than at present. Abundant growth of peat ; 

 increased rainfall ; snow-fields and local glaciers ; coast and river 

 ice transporting stones and larger blocks. Many southern forms 

 disappear from northern seas ; and the few that live on are usually 

 of less size, and occur in diminished numbers. Neolithic man 

 occupied Britain in middle post-glacial times — perhaps earlier. 



The Recent Period. — Characterised by re-elevation of the land to 

 its present position, and by gradual amelioration of climate. 



Note. — The Palaeolithic age was probably co-extensive with the 

 Glacial Period. The Neolithic age commenced with the Post- 

 glacial Period, and seems to have lasted in Britain down to the 

 dawn of the Recent Period. The Bronze Age probably began in 

 Britain with the Recent Period, as defined above. 



Iceland Falcon in Mid-Lothian. — A fine young bird of this species was 

 captured in the Queen's Park, Edinburgh, about the end of August last by 

 Mr R. B. Gilroy, Bonnington Grove, Leith, when walking there with 

 some friends. It appeared to be either exhausted from a long flight or other- 

 wise ill, as it made no attempt to fly away, and was captured and taken home 

 alive with little difficulty. Its plumage was clean and beautiful M'hen taken ; 

 and it had evidently never been in captivity. Its markings correspond in 

 almost every respect with Yarrell's description of the young bird. The plum- 

 age has a bluish cast. Head dull white, with narrow brownish-black streaks. 

 Back brownish-black ; each feather with a lighter border. Breast feathers, 

 each with a dark streak down the centre about one-third of its width. Bill 

 and cere bluish-grey, with a darker tip, much curved, and distinctly toothed. 

 Tarsi feathered to about an inch from the toes, the latter about the same col- 

 our as the bill, with dark claws. Tail feathers and inner web of wing feathers 

 with narrow transverse bars. Tips of closed wings about one inch short of 

 the tail. Stretch, when expanded, three feet. The bird is still alive, and is 

 now so tame as to feed out of the hand. So far as I am aware, there is no 

 record of this species having been previously captured or shot near Edinburgh. 

 — David Douglas, Leith, September 1879. 



