358 W. WiUiams — The Megaccros in Ireland. 



lakes, evidenced by the luxuriant bed of vegetable matter wbicli we 

 find resting on the fine Boulder-clay rain-wash just noticed. The 

 total absence of the latter clay No. 1 in this vegetable bed indicates 

 dryness of climate ; the summers must have been unusually warm and 

 dry, and favourable to vegetation. Such summers may well have 

 brought back our flora and fauna to places where now their remains 

 are found. Probably at this time the Hippopotamus and Ehinoceros 

 made their way into Yorkshire, and the Lion and Hyaena left their 

 bones in the caves of England. 



The reclothing of these lands with vegetation must have been an 

 exceedingly protracted process. The hills were covered with stones 

 and rock-debris, the soil was destitute of humus or decayed vegetable 

 matter, in winter a pasty clay, in summer like a sun-dried brick. 

 The total absence of all seeds of plants, ages of low tempera- 

 ture, and the grinding of immense glaciers, had utterly destroyed 

 all traces of vegetation, except of arctic plants, which may have 

 existed in some favoured spots. The only vegetation suited to this 

 state of things would be Cryptogamic plants ; lichens and mosses 

 would diffuse their spores most rapidly ; the growth and death of 

 these, coml)ined with atmospheric influences, would in the lapse of 

 years ameliorate the soil, and prepare it for the grasses, etc., which, 

 by their light seeds and rapid growth, would soon diffuse themselves 

 and cover the land with prairie. Whilst this was going on the 

 luxuriant vegetable growth was proceeding in the lakes, leaving the 

 plant-bed forming Clay No. 2. 



About this time the Ifegaceros appeared in Ireland. For resting 

 on this vegetable bed we first find its remains. How long it may 

 have previously existed on the Continent I will not say : it may have 

 lived in pre-Glacial times, and escaped extinction by migrating 

 south ; it is its presence here with which we have to do ; the 

 geographical conditions which made it possible for it to reach Ireland 

 I wnll not attempt to discuss here. The question now arises, "How 

 did it get drowned ? " It may have gone into the lakes to escape 

 wolves, or possibly to escape man ; but the evidence of the presence 

 of man with the Megaceros in Ireland is very slender indeed ; the 

 finding of human bones stated to be associated with those of the 

 Megaceros in the small cave at Cappagh, Co. Waterford, looks like 

 it, but is not considered conclusive. 



It may be that the animals went into the lakes to wallow, as is 

 usual with Deer, or it may have been that the animal, when passing 

 over the country, boldly ventured to ford the rivers or swim across 

 small lakes. It was easy enough to get into the lake ; but when it 

 swam across and attempted to get out at a shore having an incline 

 of nearly 45 degrees, composed of tough clay above 6 feet deep 

 (we know not how much moi'e ^ ) which lined the lake-basin, into 

 which when their small feet were thrust, no bottom could be found, 

 the more they plunged and struggled the worse they became, 

 till at last the heavy antlers (60 or 70 pounds in weight) pressed 



1 An iron rod, ten feet in length, pressed through this clay found no bottom rock. 



