98 PEOF. J. LOGAN LOBLEY, F.G.S., ETC., ON 



but is nearest to the rliinoceros. The Miocene fauna is 

 especially interesting from its giving to us the remains of 

 the earliest clogs and camels. The genus Canis, of the 

 Upper Miocene of Q^ningen, is related to the Hy(enarctus 

 already mentioned. The Protolabis, of the Miocene of North 

 America, is regarded by sojue as the earliest camel, but the 

 Frocamelus of rather later deposits, though still JMiocene, 

 is nearer to our present camel. 



The leaves of the forests of the surrounding lands have 

 been beautifully preserved by the deposits in Miocene lakes, 

 and they have been carefully described and illustrated by 

 Professor Heer, of Zurich. The flora as a whole indicates a 

 subtropical or Avarm climate, becoming colder towards the 

 close of the epoch. 



In the Miocene flora there are remains of representatives 

 of families of plants that have for a long period been of 

 great use to mardvind for fruit, for flowers, and for timber. 

 Of fruit trees both Fomarea', giving us our apples and 

 pears, and Amtigdalacecp, giving our almonds and plums, 

 appear, the former in Ph-us, pear, and the latter in both 

 Aiaygdahis, almond, and Frimu.'i, plum. Rosacea',, Violacea\ 

 Papilionacece, and FJricacea> added floral beauty to the 

 Miocene forests as they now do to our gardens. Of forest 

 trees we find that the following genera, which were of 

 earlier introduction, were in great abundance : — Qnerciis,. 

 Ulmn.% Platcmns, Acacia, Acer, Ilex, Sequoia, and Mimosa. 

 The flora also included Magnolia, Betxda, I^aiirus, Myrtus,. 

 Ficn.^. 



We have at length reached the epoch immediately- 

 preceding the advent of man on the earth, the Pliocene or 

 latest of the Tertiary periods. The approach to present 

 conditions, both in the animal and the vegetable kingdoms, 

 is very conspicuous. Deposits of this age are not wanting, 

 in the east of England, showing, therefore, a depression of 

 this area beneath the waters of the Pliocene sea, but they 

 seem to have attained their maximum importance in Italy 

 and Sicily where they have a thickness of 1,500 feet. 



The Miocene Deinotlierium and Mastodon still lived, but 

 they were now being supplanted by the true elephant, the 

 rhinoceros and by the hippopotamus, and a large number 

 of other herbivora allied to antelopes, deer, etc., indicating- 

 large grass-covered areas, together Avith the giraffe-like 

 Helladothcriwn and Sarnotherinni, and the ScAvallik Hills of 

 India a'ive to the Pliocene fauna the Sivatlierium and the 



