CHAP, iv.] LOWER PLEIOCENE MAMMALIA OF FRANCE. 79 



the mean annual temperature of Palermo at the present 

 time. Meximieux touches the 46th degree of latitude, 

 while Palermo is in 38*7. 



The difference between these two latitudes gives us 

 the means of estimating the climate with great precision. 

 We may conclude that the isothermals in Pleiocene 

 Europe were eight degrees farther north than they are 

 at the present time. The climate was colder than in 

 the preceding Meiocene age, when the evergreen forests 

 spread as far north as the British Isles. 



Lower Pleiocene Mammalia of France. 



We have seen, from the study of the vegetation, 

 that the European climate was warmer in the Pleiocene 

 age than it is now. This conclusion is confirmed by 

 an examination of the mammalia of France, which fall 

 naturally into two groups, 1 namely, those of Montpellier, 

 or the Early Pleiocene, and those of the fluviatile and 

 lacustrine strata in the neighbourhood of Issoire and 

 Clermont, which belong to the later division, as defined 

 by Professors Gervais and Gaudry. 2 



In the Pleiocenes of Montpellier we have evidence of 

 an association of animals analogous to that of the warmer 

 regions of eastern Asia. Among others are the tapir, 

 rhinoceros (R. megarhinus), and a deer (Cervus austra- 

 lis) closely allied to the muntjak of the Oriental region. 

 Two kinds of apes inhabited the forests, and found 

 abundant food in the pomegranates and other fruits ; 

 one (Macacus), allied to the macaque of the East Indies 



1 For lists of these animals, see Appendix III. 



2 Gervais, op. cit. ; Gaudry, Animawx Fossiles de Mont LeUron, 4to, 

 p. 86. 



