36 HISTORY OF THE EUROPEAN FAUNA. 



ance of man, though before historic times, that these 

 changes took place. 



We shall learn in the subsequent chapters, that 

 by a careful study of the fauna and flora the 

 fact can be established, not only of the former 

 connection of an island with a continent, but also 

 whether such union existed (geologically speaking) 

 within recent or more remote times. The better 

 the fauna is known, both recent and fossil, the more 

 precisely can the period of connection be indicated, 

 and its duration determined. 



