68 HISTORY OF THE EUROPEAN FAUNA. 



tains that a lowering of the temperature is evinced 

 not only by the widespread phenomena of glaciation, 

 but by the former presence in our temperate latitudes 

 of a northern fauna and flora. 



Mr. Charles Martins, who based his calculations 

 on the temperature during the Glacial period on 

 the glaciers of Chamounix, concluded that it only 

 needed a lowering of the temperature to the extent 

 of four degrees Centigrade to bring the glaciers down 

 to the plain of Geneva, and in fact give us back the 

 Glacial period. It need not surprise us, therefore, 

 that the French geologist, Mr. Falsan, the author 

 of La periode glaciere, is of opinion (p. 230) that the 

 mean annual temperature of France during the 

 Glacial period was approximately from 6-9 degrees 

 Centigrade, perhaps more. Close to the immense 

 glaciers of the Rhone, it might have been about 

 six degrees. This is the actual mean annual tempera- 

 ture of the South-west of Sweden and Norway, or 

 the North of Scotland. 



Although all these investigations tend to show 

 that the climate of Europe during the Glacial period 

 was by no means so severe as we are often led to 

 believe, yet there exists also a school of geologists 

 who maintain there was actually a higher temperature 

 than at present. The inconsistency of mentioning 

 heat in connection with ice and snow is more 

 apparent, however, than real, for we must remember 

 Tyndall's original remark on this subject. It is the 

 snow, he says, which feeds the glaciers. But the 



