2i8 THE ANTIQUITY OF MAN 



years, but so far no one of them has proved itself 

 capable of keeping anything like accurate time.* 

 Further, it may be noted that de Geers has also 

 quite recently brought forward evidence from a 

 post-glacial lake-bed in Sweden from which he 

 concludes that the ice did not leave that region 

 until about five thousand years ago (Wright, G. 



F-, p. 193). 



So much for the post-glacial epoch, as to the 

 duration of which it is obvious that there is con- 

 siderable difference of opinion. But it is nothing 

 to that which exists as to still earlier times. A 

 few examples may be given to illustrate this fact 

 before this paper is concluded. 



We may return to Penck, because he is a great 

 authority and the writer who draws the largest 

 cheques upon the bank of time. 



Penck demands for the genial intervals the 

 following periods of years : 



For the Riss-Wiirm, or Third Inter- 

 glacial Period 60,000 



For the Mindel-Riss, or Fourth Inter- 

 glacial Period 240,000 



As, allowing for 20,000 years for post-glacial time, 

 we have now arrived at a point 320,000 distant 

 from the present day ; and as we have made no 

 allowance for the First Inter-glacial period, not 

 to speak of the intervening glacial epochs, we have 

 a very tidy bill of time to foot. But the other 

 periods of time must be considered. " The data," 



* See p. 1 68 seq. 



