106 



Our breeds of domestic cattle are presumed to be descendants of Bos 

 longifrons. Remains of the Beaver have been found in the neighbouring 

 Nailsworth valley, at no great distance, as recorded by Mr. Lycett in his 

 "Cotteswold Hills," and we know that it was found in "Wales as late 

 as the twelfth century, and is now living in remote parts of Europe. A full 

 half, then, of the animals recorded in this list are still living, and the 

 majority of that propoi'tion, moreover, in this country. With the exception 

 of the Horse, no genera allied to those of the great Pachyderms, whose bones 

 we find spaiingly scattered through the gi-avel, as Elejjhas, Hippopotamus, 

 E-hinoceros, or to Hyaena, are fovind in Europe, or in "borresponding 

 latitudes over the world, whilst each is fully represented in tropical or 

 sub-tropical climates, as well as the great cats, the monkey, the bear, and 

 the undomesticable species of ox and deer. 



What is the natural conclusion to which an intelligent blending of 

 these tables brings us ? We have no more reason to doubt that all 

 these creatures, from the tiny Caryehium to the huge elephant, lived 

 here at the same time and together, than that they did so in the valley 

 of the Thames, where their mingled remains have occurred stUl more 

 abundantly. It may be remarked that, with the exception of the deer 

 and boar, none of the mammalia in the table have left their traces in the 

 hill deposit, but we have yet, in due order, to mention a circumstance 

 which will effectually obviate any objection offered upon that ground. 

 With regard to their known simultaneous occurrence elsewhere in Britain, 

 and present, geographical distribution, may we not reasonably infer, 

 as suggested by Lyell, that during the Pleistocene fresh- water deposits, 

 this country formed the extremity of a gi-eat continent of such genial 

 temperature and climate that, whilst not too cold to be endurable by 

 the organic forms now confined to southern latitudes, it was not hot 

 enough to drive northwards those which now inhabit it ? The mere calling 

 over the roll in which their names are given, is suggestive of a climate 

 intermediate to what we now call tropical and temperate, by a refrigerating 

 change in which, whilst the northern forms were unaffected, the tropical 

 forms became extinct, as stated by Lyell. We shall endeavour to show that 

 this theory is not destitute of support, from circumstances which present no 

 great obstacles to their verification. The period to which their remains 

 have been generally referred is that at present called "Lacustrine" by local 

 geologists ; bat with regard to the mode in which the gx-avel deposits 

 in which they occur in our district have been accumulated, and the 

 *' combes " and " bottoms " formed, we feel satisfied that no mere 

 accumulation of lakewater or ordinary current action will reasonably 

 account for either. As our observations upon this subject would make 



