PBEHISTOKIC EUBOPE. 



CHAPTEE I. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



There is no chapter in the geological history of Europe more 

 interesting than that which deals with the physical aspect and 

 condition of our continent in prehistoric ages. What appear- 

 ance did our mountains and valleys then present ? Was 

 Europe as extensive in those old times as it is to-day ? Are 

 the shores upon which our seaport towns are built the same 

 as those along which wandered the earliest races of mankind ? 

 With what tribes of animals and plants were our ancient 

 predecessors associated, and under what conditions of climate 

 did they live ? To answer all these and other subsidiary 

 questions as fully as one might, would involve the consideration 

 of a much wider range of evidence than it is possible to discuss 

 adequately in the compass of these pages ; nevertheless such an 

 outline of facts and inferences may be given as shall serve to 

 afford some notion of the mode in which a geologist views the 

 subject. It is as well to state at once, however, that there is a 

 large class of facts which might properly enough come under our 

 attention in a work like the present, but which I do not purpose 

 to treat of specially. These have reference to the more or less 

 local changes and modifications of the coast-line, brought about 



B 



