44 OSBORN. 



which has not been sufficiently emphasized previously. The 

 climate was cold and relativ^ely dry. 



The close of this period is also the close of the Palaeolithic 

 human period which after a long interval was succeeded by the 

 Neolithic period. 



3. Upper Pleistocene, Postglacial 



As above observed there is a difference of opinion as to the 

 interglacial or postglacial age of the loess. All the North Si- 

 berian, Oriental and African types gradually disappear, the 

 modern European forest and field fauna alone survives. There 

 is some evidence that both the mammoth and reindeer lived for 

 a time in this period, the latter being now confined to more 

 northern Europe. The Irish deer, Megaccros hibcrjiice, the 

 reindeer, the .bovidae Bos taurus, Bos longifrojis, Bos bracliy- 

 ccros, are the characteristic ruminants. Alecs palniatus is a post- 

 glacial Russian moose. The horse, E. cabalhis, of larger and 

 smaller varieties is now domesticated and used for food. The 

 carnivora, rodentia and insectivora are all of modern type. 



The detailed comparison of the Pleistocene of Europe, America, 

 and Asia is still under way, and veiy important results may be 

 expected from it. It will be equally serviceable to American 

 anthropologists and palaeontologists, for our own Pleistocene is 

 far from being understood. The stages represented by our horse 

 or Equiis Beds, which are usually considered Lower Pleistocene, 

 as well as of the Megalonyx and Cave Fauna of the East re- 

 main to be exactly fixed. Interest in this problem is greatly 

 enhanced by the fact that we may at any moment discover the 

 remains of man or of his ancestors associated with Eqims and 

 positively demonstrate the existence of man upon this continent 

 at a period contemporaneous with the first proofs of his appear- 

 ance in Europe in the existence of preglacial palaeolithic flints. 



