DRIFT LAND-FAUNA. 219 



Europe : chamois and marmots have been found even in the 

 plain of the Rhine ; and there the elk and the reindeer were 

 associated with the musk-ox, which is now met with only in the 

 extreme north of America and in Eastern Greenland, and with 

 two species of lemming, one of which (Myodes lemmus, Linn.) 

 now inhabits Sweden and Norway, whilst the other (M. torqua- 

 tus, Pall., sp.) lives in still higher latitudes. This occurrence of 

 Arctic and Alpine anin|als in the plains of Switzerland and 

 Europe in 'general very probably coincides in point of time with 

 the diffusion of an Alpine flora over the low country, and con- 

 stitutes an important confirmation of the hypothesis of a glacial 

 epoch. 



At a later period none of the higher animals of the Alps and 

 of Northern Europe could maintain their position on the nume- 

 rous hills in the low country, as they had not sufficient ground 

 in those localities ; and as the human race advanced into that 

 region, large animals would be obliged to give up to man their 

 share of the land; but the smaller animals, such as the 

 insects, and the plants remained. In the upper part of the 

 valley of the Toss are seen on the same mountain-plants the 

 Petasites, the Adenostyla, and the blue and golden Chrysomelae 

 (C. gloriosa and tristis), as in Central Switzerland. In the 

 brooks are found small water-beetles (Hydroporus septentrionalis , 

 Gyll., and H. griseo-striatus, Deg.) pertaining to the north and 

 to the Alps ; and on the Tosstock a beetle (Nebia Gyllenhalii} 

 has settled which is wanting in the northern mountains, but is 

 found everywhere in the Alps of the Orisons and of Uri, and 

 involuntarily reminded Prof. Heer of the Ponteljes granite which 

 had been formerly carried into this locality. On the Ziirichberg, 

 the Uetliberg, and the Randen, also, some vestiges are met with 

 of the distant Glacial epoch *. 



In another characteristic the Swiss insect-fauna shows an 

 analogy with the flora of the drift-period. Switzerland in its 

 drift possesses a considerable number of entomological species 

 which are also common to high northern latitudes, although 

 they are absent from all the intervening countries. Prof. Heer 



* As such souvenirs may be indicated Carabus auromtens, Fab., C. irregu- 

 lari* Fab., Cyehnts rostratus, Ptcrostichus ovalis and metallicus, Leplura virens, 

 CaUickrotna a/jnna, Pachyta quatttormetmfafa, and Lathrobiuin afjwstre. 



