89 



400 tons additional water to the acre, an increase not to be regretted, 

 owing to the far larger proportion of surface agricultural drainage than 

 formerly : — it shows itself too in our later hay and com harvests, the 

 latter now being in a great measure dependent upon uncertain and very 

 frequently wet times for sowing both in autumn and spring, with the 

 consequent thin crops and weak straw. 



So far we are assured of, but it is not the purpose of this paper to 

 attempt to prognosticate what important fixed changes in the climate of 

 our islands may result from a continuity of years of this character. Yet 

 there are sufficient signs of the times to show us that we are actixally 

 living not in a recurring cycle, but in a transitional epoch, and although 

 we do not ourselves succumb to the changes of atmosphere, as men are 

 fitted by nature to endure extremes, both of heat and cold, yet other 

 members of the animal tiugdom are changing their habits, if not really 

 dying out, preparing the way for a new flora and fauna, for the time 

 when our present supersoil is converted into a rock system, should the 

 earth so long continue. 



Ther« are many meteoric influences besides those I have mentioned, 

 that I could quote were it desirable in support of my argument, but I 

 pass to Natural History. Do we find in animals any evidences of this 

 change ? 



In the higher orders the same counteracting influences exist as in 

 ourselves, and we cannot expect to find more than the slightest traces 

 corroborative of our subject until we reach the birds. The migratory 

 examples of this order are marked with their own distinctive peculiarities, 

 for with them (the swallow tribe perhaps excepted) it would seem to be a 

 necessary adjunct to their well being, that there should be a certain 

 difference of temperatnre between the station of departure and that of 

 sojourn. This fact then unfortunately disposes of our hopes of learning 

 anything from them, just when at first sight it appears most natural to 

 expect something definite. Yet a very slight enquiry will show that 

 many birds have changed their times and habits. Some that used to rear 

 their young regularly in this country no longer do so, and the range 

 of others, notably the nightingale, has become more restricted than 

 formerly. 



Amongst the reptilia our argument is assisted by the natter jack or 

 striped toad, which need not now be considered a denizen of our northern 

 counties only. It is well established in Northampton, Cambridge, and 

 East Anglia, and has even put in an appearance occasionally in Hants, 

 Surrey, and Sussex. 



What is more astonishing still, is the fact that our fishes ha^ve been 

 influenced in some way by the change. There were many that used to 

 visit our shallow waters ;it stated and regular seasons for the purpose of 

 spawning, which no longer come as they were wont. Even the appear- 

 ance of the commoner sorts is uncertain, fitful, and irregular, so much 

 so that our fishermen no longer know whether or when to expect shoals 



