96 HISTORY OF THE EUROPEAN FAUNA. 



Cricetus songarus. Alces latifrons. 



Myodes lemmus. machlis. 



Cunictilus torquatus. Rangifer tarandus. 



We have evidence that most of these twenty-six 

 species of mammals came from Eastern Europe, but 

 there is no reason to suppose that they originated there. 

 On the contrary, it is highly probable, as I said be- 

 fore, that their native home is Siberia, and that they 

 entered Europe to the north of the Caspian. Along 

 with these, vast numbers of other forms of life, and 

 also plants, swarmed into our continent, and as we 

 advance eastward from England we meet with them 

 in increasing numbers to the present day. But not 

 only on the Continent do we find these survivals of 

 the great Siberian migration, which has been so ably 

 described by Professor Nehring; no less than nine 

 species still inhabit Great Britain (if we include the 

 recently extinct Beaver). On the other hand, not 

 more than three have been found fossil in Ireland, 

 and of these only one still survives. This very signifi- 

 cant fact will be referred to again more fully on p. 153. 

 Meanwhile it should be remembered that these 

 three species, viz., Mustela erminea, Equus caballus, 

 and Rangifer tarandus, occur in Ireland in varieties 

 distinct from those found in Central Europe. It is 

 upon this, and many other circumstances, that 

 I founded my belief that Ireland was already 

 separated from England at the time of the arrival 

 of the Siberian emigrants in the latter country. As 



