240 THE CHAIN OF LIFE. 



Accepting the Post-glacial age as that of the advent of 

 man, it may be interesting to ask what we know of the condi- 

 tion of our continents when he appeared. In Western Asia, 

 in Europe, except in its more northern portions, and it would 

 now seem also in America, man had been introduced at a 

 time closely following the emergence of the land from the 

 Glacial sea. At this time the land area of both continents was 

 larger than it is at present, and the character of the fauna 

 shows that much of the surface was occupied with great steppes 

 or prairies, over which migration would be easy ; while there 

 were probably connections by land or chains of islands be- 

 tween the continents of the northern hemisphere. The land 

 animals of the continents were more numerous and of greater 

 stature than at present. Several species of elephants (Fig. i86) 

 and a rhinoceros roamed over the plains. The formidable 

 Elasmothe7-ium (Fig. 187),! an animal allied to the rhinoceros, 

 but more fleet and active, and of immense size, inhabited Asia 

 and Europe. Hippopotami, wild horses, the gigantic Irish 

 stag, several species of wild cattle, and bisons of greater size 

 than their successors, haunted the streams and steppes. The 

 cave bear, the cave lion, the spotted hjjena, and possibly the 

 Machairodus, were among the beasts of prey even in the 

 temperate latitudes. The climate must have been a continental 

 one, ranging through considerable extremes ; but the con- 

 ditions favoured migration of animals on the great scale, so 

 as to avoid these extremes^ and hence species of types now 

 comparatively restricted enjoyed a wide distribution. 



To establish themselves in such a world, the primitive men 

 must have b(!en no puny race, either in mind or body, and they 

 must have been sheltered in some Eden of plenty and com- 

 parative safety till, by increase of numbers, invention of 

 weapons and implements, and domestication of useful animals, 

 they became able to cope with the monarchs of the waste. 



^ Traditions of this animal, a veritable primaeval unicorn, are said still to 

 exist in Siberia. 



