NOTE ON ELEPHAS MERIDIONALIS. 3 



belongs to this section, Elephas planifrons, of the Upper Miocene 

 Sewalik Hill formation of India, and the Post-pliocene pigmy 

 Elephants of Malta, E. Melitensis, which was not more than 4| feet 

 high, and Eleplias Falconeri, Busk, which did not exceed 2^ or 

 3 feet. 



Eu-eleplias is represented by the living Indian Elephant. It in- 

 cludes also E. antiquiLS and the Mammoth ; both are of the Pliocene 

 age, and probably appeared during the latter part of it, when the 

 warm temperature of the earlier period had given place to the cold 

 which began then to set in the precursor of the Glacial Period. 

 The Pliocene beds give no evidence of a true glacial fauna, neither 

 in the alluvial deposits of the valleys of the Po and of the Arno, nor 

 in the corresponding deposits on the northern side of the Alps, the 

 valley of the Khone, and other parts of Switzerland. The climate was 

 more equable and of a higher temperature than at present ; the flora 

 then was remarkably uniform in France and in Italy. The Pliocene 

 flora of Lyons, of the Cantal in France, of Bologna, and Tuscany in 

 Italy, connects the past and present plant-life of Europe with those of 

 distant regions, now separated by extensive seas, such as America, 

 the Caucasus, Japan, and China. The Valley of the Po was then 

 an arm of the sea, which stretched into what are now Alpine valleys. 

 The Valley of the Arno Avas also submerged at this period. In the 

 overlying marine deposits both fauna and flora shew a considerable 

 lowering of the temperature ; immigrants from the north were 

 introduced and largely prevailed towards the end of the Pliocene 

 period, reaching as far southward as Sicily. I expect it was at the 

 later period Elephas meridional is, Hippopotamus, and Rhinoceros 

 Etruscus (leptorldnm) and Irish Elk were driven southwards, and 

 were hardy enough to endure the changes attending the early part of 

 the Glacial Period. As there was then land communication with 

 Africa, some found refuge there, others unable from some cause or 

 other to reach it in time perished. Of the above named animals, as well 

 as Machairodus latutens, Rhinoceros meyarhinus, Ursus Arvemensis, 

 Hippopotamus is theonly one now living, therest having perished from 

 inability to survive the new state of things. Elephas meridionals 



