184 EVOLUTION IN THE PAST 



tough integuments they were specially qualified to penetrate. 

 Among numerous other cat-forms some were shaping, so to 

 speak, into lions, some into lynxes. True bears were numerous 

 at this time in Europe, where also hyaenas were still to be 

 seen. 



PRIMATES Carnivores in quest of prey no longer caught sight of anthro- 

 poid or man-like apes, for these had now deserted Europe. 

 Primates of lower rank were still represented, at least in the 

 southern parts of the continent, by " Holy Apes " (Semno- 

 pithecus). Macaques or Barbary Apes were also in the 

 forests (Macacus) ; as well as some long-headed apes of a 

 kind now quite unknown (Dolichopithecus}. 



CLIMATE The departure of many animals from Europe was doubt- 

 less owing to a fall in the temperature, and not a few that 

 remained in the northern regions were finding themselves in 

 " the winter of their discontent." A moist and almost 

 tropical climate had prevailed on the continent during the 

 Eocene and Oligocene Periods, and had continued through 

 the greater portion of the Miocene. Towards the close of 

 the last Period it is clear that climatic changes were in pro- 

 gress, as the palms ceased to flourish. That the temperature 

 was still declining in the early Pliocene is shown by the 

 continued dwindling of the palms, the suppression of much 

 warmth-loving vegetation, the increase of grasses and de- 

 ciduous trees, and the retreat of crocodiles. In the later 

 Pliocene, palms and other tropical and subtropical growths 

 seem to have disappeared entirely, and the verdant scenes 

 presented an aspect much as that of to-day. 



Further evidence of a falling temperature in Europe is 

 afforded by the migrations of molluscan life. In Eocene 

 and Oligocene times the molluscs more or less resembled or 

 belonged to species that now thrive in tropical regions. 

 Towards the close of the Miocene various warm-water 

 species had moved southward. This migration continued in 

 the Pliocene, and the relinquished haunts were occupied by 

 hardier molluscs from northern latitudes. 

 NORTH Little has as yet been discovered of later Pliocene life 



AMERICA in North America. Some remains have been found which 

 suggest lion-like animals ; and there is evidence that some 



