[I'BNiiALLow] THE PLEISTOCENE FLORA OF CANADA 77 



Jersey or rennsylvania. From the standpoint of botanical evidence, 

 thei'efore, the testimony points conclusively to the fact that the climate 

 of the Don period must have been much warmer than now, and in all 

 probability similar to that of the Middle United States. 



The plants of G-reen's Creek, Scarboro Heights, Moose River, Bes- 

 serer's and Montreal are difterent from the above and constitute a distinct 

 grouj), probably, also, of diiferent age. They are essentially of the same 

 character from all these localities, and represent a vegetation which is, 

 without exception, the same as that which now flourishes through the 

 same region. They indicate beyond doubt, a climate similar to that of 

 our own time or possibly a little more severe. 



In reviewing the evidences of climate afforded b}^ the plants derived 

 from the Leda clays, Montreal, and from the nodules of Green's Creek, 

 Ottawa, I tind that Sir Wm. Dawson expressed a similar opinion as long 

 ago as 1868, holding that the plants derived from the latter locality must 

 represent the vegetation of the same region, and not remains which had 

 been brought in from either moi'e southern or more northern localities, 

 and that, therefore, the climate indicated would be comparable with that 

 of the southern coast of Labrador bordering upon the Gulf of St. Law- 

 rence, at present/ 



With respect to the Pleistocene deposits in the vicinity of Toronto, 

 Prof. A. P. Coleman has recently drawn attention to the fact also made 

 clear by our tabular presentation, that in the Don valley, and in Scar- 

 boro Heights, the deposits were laid down at different times and 

 belong to periods of very different climatic character. This view is 

 supported not only by the flora but by the fauna also, and Prof. Coleman 

 concludes from the evidence thus afforded, that the climate of the Scarboro 

 Heights period must have been similar to that now existing about Lake 

 Superior and in Labrador. He is also inclined to favour the view that the 

 Scarboro beds were laid down first, in which case it would a])pear that 

 since the Don period the climate of that region has undergone a further 

 change, whereby it is approaching the conditions of the Scarboro period. ' 



So far then, as evidence is at hand, it would seem to indicate that 

 during the Pleistocene period, similar climatic conditions prevailed through- 

 out the region now embracing Scarboro Heights. Green's Creek, Moose 

 River, Montreal ; and it is probable that the deposits of these various 

 localities were contemporaneous. 



1 Can. Nat., N. Ser. III., 74 ; VI., 406. 

 ■^ Jn'l of Geol. IIL, 636. 



