530 Mr. i). A. Bamierman on the [Ibii*, 



note that it was about this same time— in the late Oligocene 

 and early Miocene periods — that the great physical dis- 

 turbances commenced which gave rise to the elevation ot 

 the Al[)s, and it was in the middle and latter part of the 

 Miocene that probably the whole system of mountain-folds 

 from Morocco to the far East took place. 



Of the vegetation and climate in Africa at this period of 

 the earth's history little is known. Wallace tells ns that in 

 the Miocene we had iu Europe indications of a luxuriant 

 vegetation and subtropical climate. On the whole the 

 birds of J*]urope at this time were very like those now 

 living, with the addition of a few tropical forms. Furtber 

 back in the Eocene only forms of birds now extinct were to 

 be found. 



Knipe gives us a glowing account of vegetation in Europe 

 during the Miocene. From his book^ we gather that the 

 high temperature continued in Europe for some time 

 during this period ; and the central lands of the continent 

 remained rich with subtropical vegetation. Meanwhile the 

 hardier growths had pressed far to the noi'th ... In the 

 course of the period some decline of the European tempera- 

 ture took place ; for palms began to languish, and conifers, 

 grasses, and various deciduous trees reoccupied portions of 

 their lost southern territory. The reduction in the heat, 

 however, cannot have been very great; for camphor and 

 cinnamon trees continued in abundance, and palms, though 

 greatly reduced in number, were not entirely suppressed. 

 Dealing with the birds of this period Mr. Knipe remarks : 

 " More remaikable than the evolution of seals and whales 

 from land-mammals was the rise of birds from reptiles, and 

 their subsequent development into a vast variety of forms." 



The physical conditions of Europe which existed in the 

 early days of the Canary Islands — when presumably that 

 Archipelago began to be inhabited by birds — are important 

 considerations wiien we come to review the Ornis of the 

 islands at the present day. 



* ' Evolution iu the Past,' TJ12. 



