Miocene Epoch. 353 



stress on these points, because, after we get through 

 these doubtful and fragmentary stratigraphical and 

 zoological gradations, we at length emerge on a time 

 generally recognised as Miocene or Middle Tertiary, the 

 larger part of the flora and fauna of which has the 

 closest analogy to those that now inhabit the earth, the 

 flora, possibly, even in part, specifically, and part of 

 the fauna, certainly generically. Most of the modern 

 types are represented in one part of the world or 

 another : Elephant, Ehinoceros, Hippopotamus, Horses, 

 Deer, Oxen, Camels, Giraffes, Monkeys, and various 

 carnivora. Nor are fresh -water reptilia wanting, though 

 they are less distinctive, some of the modern represen- 

 tatives of these animals having held their place through 

 longer epochs of time. 



I recapitulate these facts, because the circumstances, 

 bearing as they do on the present physical geography of 

 our part of the world, are very distinct, and I shall soon 

 have something more to say about the later unions of 

 England with the Continent, and migrations of life 

 consequent thereon. 



The Hempstead beds of the Isle of Wight partly 

 connect the Eocene and Miocene epochs, in so far that 

 the plants of these strata (always an imperfect guide) 

 are related to Miocene species. But stratigraphically, 

 the Hempstead beds are inseparable from the Eocene 

 beds below, and their fossils, those that lived in water, 

 are almost without exception the same. 



True Miocene strata are very poorly represented in 

 England, as shown in Chapter XVI., in the description 

 of Bovey Tracey, and they play no important part in 

 its physical geography. The slopes which surrounded 

 the old lake of Bovey Tracey were clothed with splendid 

 pines of the genus Sequoia (Wellingtonia), oaks, cin- 

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