On British Drifts and the In tc /'glacial Problem. 307 



ardently desires ; and with this allurement it is no wonder that 

 the theory was welcomed and hopefully put to the test. Fore- 

 most among- its exponents was Professor James Geikie ; and we 

 must all recognise that its main importance to the field-geologist 

 arose from his powerful support and masterly arrangement of 

 the evidence favourable to the hypothesis. 



It is not surprising that, amid the complicated mass of facts 

 confronting us in the glacial deposits and among the voluminous 

 literature wherein these facts are more or less skilfully en- 

 wrapped, there should have been found some material to 

 support the idea of a recurrent succession of glacial and inter- 

 g^lacial stages. But the glamour of the astronomical hypothesis 

 has waned, and it is recognised that there are flaws in the 

 physical aspect of the theory and in its geological application 

 that render it untrustworthy I think, therefore, that the time 

 has come when we should reconsider the matter in critical 

 mood, uninfluenced by the early g-low of the theory, after the 

 wise example of that ancient people who debated all matters of 

 import in two opposite frames of mind. 



On the present occasion it would be impossible adequately 

 to discuss the whole subject, and I propose to deal principally 

 with my own experience in attempting- to apply the Interglacial 

 hypothesis to my field-work. I hope also to be able briefly to 

 review the evidence from other parts of our islands in the light 

 of this experience. 



And here I may remind you of the important part which this 

 Section of the British Association has taken in the study of the 

 subject by organising Committees of Research, provided with 

 funds for carrying out excavation and other necessary work. 

 During- the twenty-five years since we last met at York I find 

 that, including the work in certain bone-caves, there have been 

 fourteen such committees, and in many cases their operations 

 have extended over several years, so that over thirty separate 

 reports have been published in the Annual Reports of the 

 Association. The precise information embodied in these reports 

 is of hig-h scientific value, and I am sure that these results are 

 very creditable to the Section. 



[After stating the 'Classification of the Drifts,' proposed by 

 Prof. J. Geikie on the basis of the Interg^lacial hypothesis, Mr. 

 Lamplugh dealt with the literature relating- to the Interglacial 

 problem in other countries, from which it would appear that 

 there is elsewhere the same diversity of opinion as to the unity 

 or otherwise of the glacial epoch that obtains in this country]. 



1906 September i. 



