270 FOOTPRINTS OF VANISHED KACES IN CORNWALL. 



the occurrence of a semi-arctic vegetation in the drift beds at 

 Bovey Heathfield, characterised by the presence of the dwarf 

 birch and the dwarf willow.^' There is a remarkable region in 

 North America which has been called—" The Driftless Region of 

 Wisconsin," which helps us to understand the condition of Corn- 

 wall during the Glacial Period. This region, which is more than 

 200 miles long, contains neither glacial markings, nor erratic 

 boulders, nor glacial deposits ; and the fissures in its limestone 

 rocks are full of the bones of mastodons, elephants, buffaloes, 

 and wolves. All around this driftless region the rocks are 

 covered with the usual glacial markings and glacial deposits. 

 The American geologists believe, that during the Glacial Period, 

 this driftless region formed a great island, which was surrounded 

 by vast sheets of moving ice.^*^ Southern Alaska to-day, beneath 

 Mount St. Elias, is traversed by great glaciers, and supports 

 extensive ice-sheets. But it has a vigorous vegetation, and con- 

 tains many open spaces, which may help us to ]3icture the 

 condition of Cornwall during the great Ice Age." 



The Glacial Period passed away, and a milder climate suc- 

 ceeded in eVery part of Great Britain. Dense forests — which on 

 the mountains were chiefly formed of dark pines, and on the 

 lowlands by our present vegetation — covered hill and dale. The 

 rivers of southern Britain were then far larger than they are now, 

 and swollen by the melting of the snows and by a heavy rainfall, 

 rolled in enormous volume through the valleys. Animal life was 

 wonderfully abundant. Of the carnivora ; lions, tigers,^^ bears, 

 hyaenas and leopards were the leading members. Herbiverous 

 mammalia were still more numerous. Elephants, of three differ- 

 ent species, ^^ traversed the woods, and marched in great herds 



15. Ihid. Address by Mr. W. Pengelley to the Association, vol. ii, pp. 24, 25. 

 Mr. Pengelley is doubtful as to the source from which the boulder in Barnstaple was 

 derived, nor does he decide if it were carried by land, river, sea, or ice. 



16. For a description of the Driftless Region of Wisconsin, see The Ice Age 

 in North Avierica,\iy G. F. Wright, pp. 120, 194. Also Alan and the Glacial Period, 

 by G. F. Wright, p. loi. Also, The Great Ice Age, by Prof J. A. Geikie, p. 464. Prof. 

 Geikie quotes at length from Professor Winchell. 



17 These glacial regions of Alaska are admirably described by Professor G. F. 

 Wright in his two most interesting works, The Ice Age in North America, and Man 

 and the Glacial Period. 



i8. That is, the Machairodus, or sabre-toothed tiger, the remains of which 

 have been found in Kent's cavern. 



19. Elephas MIeridionalis. Elephas Antiquus. Elephas Primigenins. (Mam- 

 moth.) 



