An attempt to Elucidate the History of the Ivish Elk. 109 
tion. If the animal had abundance of food, few enemies, and 
other favorable conditions, how could the whole race vanish from 
the earth ? i 
A further examination of these interesting clays will, I trust, 
enable me to give a probable answer to the question. 
Mr. Hull,in his recently published work on the Physical Geology 
of Ireland, tells us that the Post Pliocene deposits may be arranged 
under three divisions, namely—(1) the Lower Boulder Clay or 
Fill; (2) the Middle Sands and Gravels, and (3) the Upper Boulder 
Clay—the lower and upper being essentially arctic in character, 
the middle being temperate. 
I have described the bed of the lake as representing the Lower 
Boulder Clay, and consequently arctic in its character; also the 
lake sediment in which the bones are found as representing the 
second stage, and indicating a temperate climate. I now have 
strong reasons for believing that the upper clay, immediately 
under the peat, is “decidedly arctic in its character.” In the 
year 1876, while engaged in making excavations in it, Mr. Moss 
came out one evening, and I mentioned to him what was then 
only a conjecture, that the bed of the lake indicated the first 
glacial period, and the top bed the second glacial period, the Me- 
gaceros bed intervening. As further examinations have con- 
firmed me in my first impression, I must here give the reasons 
which have led me to this conclusion. 
Ist—I have noticed that the lake sediment (No. 2) is full of 
vegetable matter; but the top bed of clay is totally different in 
character, being quite barren, and destitute of vegetable matter. 
2nd.—The lake sediment is stratified, whereas the top bed is 
homogeneous and without structure. 
3rd.—The lake sediment abounds with a substance called 
vivianite, a phosphate of iron; in the top bed this does not occur. 
The cause of its absence may be noticed afterwards. 
4th.—The strongest evidence that this clay indicates an arctic 
climate is the fact that in it I found the antler of a rein deer— 
admittedly an arctic animal, and one which cannot live, I believe, 
in a temperate climate. 
Hence, the conclusion I come to is, that the Megaceros lived 
