66 CHANNELS AND GLENS OF AYRSHIRE. 



flourished there, on a shore-line, during the glacial submergence ; 

 and, if we are to judge from the large number of plants in icy 

 regions at the present day, perhaps the bulk of the indigenous 

 flora survived the glacial period. We can state this with all 

 the greater confidence as a considerable list of drift species 

 is already known, from the beds between the boulder-clays. 

 There was probably no " inter-glacial " period properly speaking, 

 the ice never having completely melted away during the glacial 

 period. 



Ayrshire would probably have no coast-line at that time, the 

 land standing higher above sea-level than it does now, and a 

 great valley extending away to Arran and Cantire, with the Clyde 

 joined by the Ayrshire rivers and others, running through it. At- 

 present an elevation of the land would leave a large fresh-water 

 loch between Ayrshire and Arran. 



