Ill] THE GEOLOGICAL RECORD 45 



the coast connect the vegetation of the historic period 

 with that of the Neolithic age. At the base of the 

 Pleistocene series, the name given to the latest 

 chapter of geological history, we find evidence of the 

 prevalence of arctic conditions in the Avidely spread 

 boulder-clays and other deposits of the Glacial period. 



From deposits of post-Glacial date abundant plant 

 remains have been obtained, but we cannot say with 

 any degree of certainty what proportion of these 

 plants remained in Britain during the Ice age, and 

 whether the greater jiart of the vegetation, the relics 

 of which have been discovered in pre-Glacial beds, 

 was destroyed or driven south by the advancing ice. 

 We may briefly consider some of the more interesting 

 facts brought to light by the investigation of the 

 fossil plants in the Lower Pleistocene and Upper 

 Tertiary beds. It is mainly to the researches of 

 Mr Clement Reid into the vegetation of Britain 

 immediately preceding the Glacial period, that our 

 knowledge of this phase of the history of the British 

 flora is due. 



On the coast of Norfolk in the neighbourhood of 

 Cromer the sections of the cliffs reveal the existence 

 of a succession of sands, clays, and gravels underlying 

 Glacial deposits ; this material was probably laid 

 down near the mouth of the ancient Rhine, which in 

 the latter part of the Tertiary period flowed across 

 a low area, which is now occupied by the shallow 



