CHAP. xiv. MAN'S AGE IN EELATION TO PRESENT FAUNA. 289 



If we reflect on the long series of events of the post- 

 pliocene and recent periods contemplated in this chapter, it 

 will be remarked that the time assigned to the first appear 

 ance of man, so far as our geological inquiries have yet gone, is 

 extremely modern in relation to the age of the existing fauna 

 and flora, or even to the time when most of the living species 

 of animals and plants attained their actual geographical 

 distribution. At the same time it will also be seen, that if 

 the advent of man in Europe occurred before the close of 

 the second continental period, and antecedently to the se 

 paration of Ireland from England and of England from the 

 continent, the event would be sufficiently remote to cause the 

 historical period to appear quite insignificant in duration, 

 when compared to the antiquity of the human race. 



