404 D. Bell — The Great Ice Age and Submergence. 



of Glacial times bore an intimate relation to those that now obtain " 

 ("Great Ice Age," p. 777). We cannot see, then, how it could 

 possibly be otherwise than that elevation and colder conditions, 

 submergence and warmer conditions, must have gone together. 

 This cardinal principle, we submit, should be borne in mind in the 

 construction of any scheme of events for the Glacial period. 



Now, from this point of view, we can make nothing of Ur, Geikie's 

 " succession of events " during that period ; the physical changes 

 and climatal conditions set forth seem to be utterly disconnected, 

 and indeed at variance with each other. Thus, to take a few 

 instances, we read — 



"The climate certainly must have become cold and ungenial as 

 the depression continued" (p. 312). 



"Scotland submerged .... The climate had deteriorated" («&id.). 



"The land gained on the sea until the latter had retreated con- 

 siderably beyond its present limits. The climate at the same time 

 became more genial" (p. 313). 



" Submergence next ensued, the climate at the same time passing 

 from temperate to Arctic" (p. 323). 



"Re-elevation of the land, or retreat of the sea, and a gradual 

 amelioration of climate" (p. 325). 



" Submergence once more ensued .... and the climate at the 

 same time became colder" (ibid.). 



From these and other passages which might be quoted it would 

 seem that the author regards elevation as somehow productive of 

 more genial conditions, and submergence as associated with colder 

 and more severe conditions of climate. 



We hold the opposite view so strongly that when shells of 

 distinctly Arctic species are found (as in some instances they have 

 been) at a considerable elevation, that very circumstance, to our 

 mind, casts " ominous conjecture " on their being really in place. 



We may remark, in closing, that these numerous distinct Glacial 

 periods, accompanied by repeated depressions and re-elevations, are 

 not borne out by the observations of geologists in other countries. 

 Unless cause be shown to the contrary', the probability surely is that 

 the conditions prevailing here during the Ice Age were similar to 

 those prevailing in other parts of the Northern hemisphere. We have 

 already quoted Dr. Geikie to the effect that " no evidence of marine 

 action has been detected in the formation of the stony clays " which 

 cover "the low grounds of Northern Europe" ("Great Ice Age," 

 pp. 432-3). "Nowhere do German geologists find any evidence of 

 marine action " — that is, in the Boulder-clay. The overlying so-called 

 "inter-Glacial" deposits within the Baltic area, as a rule only 

 attain a very moderate elevation (pp. 448-50). In Sweden, two 

 Boulder-clays are recognized, a lower and an upper ; but Tornebohm 

 says they have " both been formed in the same way, and are true 

 moraines de fond, and that in the interval between them, marked by 

 a partial retreat of the ice, " the land was not submerged." In 

 short, " the majority of geologists on the Continent believe that there 



