PLEISTOCENE AND RECENT. 47/ 



by Joshua Trimmer,' who commenced to map the Drifts on the 

 One-inch Ordnance Map ; and he was followed b}' Mr. S. V. Wood, 

 jun., to whose enthusiastic labours we are most largely indebted 

 for the foundation of our knowledge on this subject. It is, how- 

 ever, impossible to indicate with accuracy the distribution of the 

 Drifts, on a map smaller than the One-inch Geological Survey Map ; 

 and with the exception of the Alluvial marshes, they occupy a com- 

 paratively insignificant part in the scenery of our country, for the 

 main features were marked out before the Drifts were accumulated. 

 That the Pliocene period was followed by one of intense cold 

 has been previously indicated (see p. 456). This Glacial period 

 was itself characterized by considerable physical changes and 

 fluctuations in climate, and during the milder intervals certain 

 large Mammalia inhabited this country, including many forms that 

 do not belong to our present fauna or to that which survived to 

 Modern times. Thus the Quaternary era has been divided as 

 follows : — 



Recent. 



Pleistocene. 



The Pleistocene period, so named by Lyell in 1830, includes 

 Terrestrial, Alluvial, Estuarine, Marine, and Glacial accumulations ; 

 and the organic remains found in certain Caverns and River- 

 deposits, being associated with relics of Palseolithic Man, these 

 deposits are sometimes regarded as of Palaeolithic age. 



The Pleistocene Beds are characterized by remains of the Musk 

 Sheep i^Ovibos moschaliis), Bison {B. prhcus), Hippopottwms [H. 

 major or amphibius), the straight-tusked or early Elephant {Elephas 

 antiquns), and the Mammoth {E. primigcjiius^, the Woolly Rhinoceros 

 {R. tichorhimis), and the small-nosed species (7?. leptorhinus), the 

 Grisly Bear [Ursus ferox). Glutton [Gulo luscus), Lynx (Fe/is lynx). 

 Cave Lion [Felis hovzx. spelcva). Leopard [Fflis pardus), Cave Hyaena 

 {H. crocuta var. spelcca), sabre-toothed Lion {Machcerodtis latidcns), 

 pouched Marmot {Spcnnophi/ns citillus), and Norwegian Lemming 

 {Mjodcs hmmus). None of these species lived on to Recent times in 

 this country ; but the Pleistocene deposits contain also some forms 

 which, if they were driven out of this country, returned in the 

 Recent period, and many of which still exist in England. These 

 include the Horse {Equus caballus), the Urus {Bos pn'migenius), 

 Roe Deer {Cervus capreolus). Red Deer (C. elaphus). Reindeer 

 (C. tarajidus), Irish Elk (C megaceros or Megaceros Hibernicus), 

 Wild Boar {Sus scrofa), Brown Bear {Ursus arctos), Fox {Cam's 

 vulpts). Wolf (C lupus), Wild Cat {Felts catus). Otter {Lutra 

 vulgaris). Badger {Meles laxus), Stoat {Mustela ert7iinea), Marten 

 {Mustela niartes). Weasel {M. puton'us), Hare {Lepus limidus), Rabbit 

 {L. cuniculus), Beaver {Caslorjiber), and the Mole {Talpa Europcea)? 

 These Mammalia include forms whose modern representatives 



1 Q. J. vii. 37. 



^ Fossil bones usually adhere to the tongue owing to their loss of animal gluten ; 

 for the preservation of such remains glue is recommended for larger bones, and 

 gelatine for smaller ones. W. Davies, G. Mag. 1865, p. 239. 



