296 APPENDIX I. 



and that the bed underlying the lignites in some places (Wet- 

 zikon and Diirnten) also partook of an erratic nature and there- 

 fore owed its origin to glacial action. 



Two glacial periods in Switzerland, according to the hypothesis 

 of Morlot, are considered to have been proved ; aixd between the 

 two glacial deposits lignite-coal beds are found with abundant 

 remains of plants and animals, the existence of which appears to 

 prove that at that time a warmer climate had prevailed. 



This fact acquired additional interest when Falconer and H. 

 de Meyer recognized, among the animal remains contained in 

 this lignite, an elephant (Elephas antiquus) and a species of 

 rhinoceros (R. Merkii), which were elsewhere referred to the 

 lowest strata of the Quaternary formation. With these were 

 associated animals of later type, such as the cave-bear and urns 

 (Bos primigenius}) and of existing species, such as the common 

 stag. Prof. Heer has shown that the plants of the lignites in 

 that locality, as well as two insects found with them, belonged 

 to species now indigenous to Switzerland. For all details, both 

 as regards the deposition and the contents of these lignites, the 

 admirable descriptions may be consulted which Prof. Heer has. 

 given of them in the 12th chapter of his ' Primaeval World of 

 Switzerland' (vol. ii. p. 148 of the present work). 



In the section of the strata in the pits at Wetzikon the pre- 

 sence of an erratic deposit under the lignite has lately been con- 

 firmed by Prof. Renevier of Lausanne and A. Heim of Zurich. 

 Prof. Riitimeyer has repeatedly examined the animal remains 

 from these lignites, and he has arrived at the same results as 

 before. Only the remains of elephant and rhinoceros (of which 

 the latter have unfortunately for the most part been lost) were 

 not included in his investigation, as Falconer and H. de Meyer 

 offered him a better security for their correct determination than 

 his own examination. To the previously known remains of 

 Ursus spelaeus (a single impression of a series of mandibular teeth 

 at Utznach), Bos primigenius (a few mandibular teeth at Utz- 

 nach), and Cervus elephas (abundant at Wetzikon and Diirnten) 

 there was added unmistakable evidence of the presence of the 

 elk in the lignite at Diirnten. 



Recently in the Diirnten lignite proofs have been furnished 

 that, contemporaneously with the flora and fauna of which it 



