88 HISTORY OF THE EUROPEAN FAUNA. 



history of the Glacial period in its climatic effects on the 

 animals and plants of Europe. A number of writers are 

 quoted who have conducted special researches in determining 

 the temperature of our continent at the time. The fauna of 

 Europe is frequently described as having been of an Arctic 

 nature, but as a matter of fact there existed during the Ice 

 Age a striking and most remarkable mingling of a northern 

 and a southern fauna. The presence of Siberian mammals in 

 Europe is said to have been due to the prevalence of a dry 

 steppe climate, but this view is not supported by other evidence. 

 The Alpine flora in a wide sense is probably pre-glacial in 

 origin, and appears to have survived the Ice Age where it 

 is now known to exist. A few words on the phenomena of 

 glaciation are added before bringing the chapter to a close. 



