8O HISTORY OF THE EUROPEAN FAUNA. 



level. The winter temperature of that part of Ireland 

 resembles that of southern Europe, being no less than 

 12 Fahr. above freezing point This fact appears 

 to strengthen the view not only that the Alpine 

 flora is of pre-glacial origin, but that the climate of 

 Europe during the Glacial period was mild. 



Having now shortly reviewed the state of our 

 knowledge with regard to the former presence in 

 our temperate latitudes of Arctic animals and plants, 

 it still remains for me to give a succinct statement of 

 the light thrown by this fauna and flora on the wide- 

 spread phenomena of glaciation. It is necessary to 

 do so, because, though the greater development of 

 glaciers on the mountains of Europe in former times 

 does not presuppose the prevalence of an Arctic 

 climate, the survival through the Ice Age of a fauna 

 and flora could not possibly have taken place in 

 northern Europe if the theories of glaciation now so 

 much in vogue are really true. Professor Geikie 

 reminds us, in speaking of his native country (p. 

 67), that "we must believe that all the hills 

 and valleys were once swathed in snow and 

 ice; that the whole of Scotland was at some 

 distant date buried underneath one immense mer 

 de glace, through which peered only the higher 

 mountain tops." That under such conditions no 

 fauna or flora to speak of could have survived in 

 Scotland is evident. Then again he argues (p. 426) 

 that because in the great plain of Europe we meet 

 occasionally with striated rock-surfaces and roches 



