1 86 HISTORY OF THE EUROPEAN FAUNA. 



qucntly. The climate during that period in Scan- 

 dinavia was probably more equable and moister, 

 with a greater snowfall in winter and with less 

 sun to melt the snow during summer, so that the 

 development of glaciers took more formidable dimen- 

 sions, chiefly on the east side. The lowlands of 

 Sweden were covered by the sea, whilst many of 

 the valleys were choked with ^ great glaciers, which 

 cast off portions of ice as they reached the sea, just 

 as the Greenland and other northern glaciers do {vide 

 p. 237). A country which at the present day probably 

 somewhat resembles the former Scandinavia climati- 

 cally is Tierra del Fuego, in the extreme south of 

 South America. Though there is an abundant 

 snowfall, so that glaciers reach the sea in many 

 parts of the country, the flora has been described by 

 travellers as luxuriant; and it appears that the fauna 

 also is richer than might be expected from the cheer- 

 less climate. 



Towards the latter part of the Glacial period the 

 land-connection between Scandinavia, Spitsbergen, 

 and Greenland broke down, and the waters of the 

 Arctic and Atlantic Oceans joined. Whether it was 

 at this time or later that the other land-connection 

 between Scandinavia and Scotland collapsed is 

 difficult to determine; but it is certain, I think, 

 that Scotland was still united with Ireland even after 

 these two great land-bridges ceased to exist. 



