5 2 



[Proc. B.N.F.C., 



The strangest feature about this unexpected discovery in 

 Ireland is the fact that this same kind of Hyaena still inhabits at 

 the present day Central and South Africa. A more northern 

 form of Hyaena occurs in North Africa and Asia Minor. But we 

 are quite certain that the latter did not reach Ireland in the past,, 

 whereas its larger southern relative did. Why it should have 

 extended its range so far north formerly we do not know. We 

 are left to ponder over the significant fact that this eminently 

 tropical creature wandered so far north of its home at the very 

 same time as the Reindeer found it expedient to extend its range 

 southward. There is no getting over these facts. Our experience 

 in Ireland is not an isolated one. In England precisely the same 

 association of the Reindeer and the Hyaena has been observed 

 and duly recorded. 



Another fact which concerns our present enquiry more 

 particularly is that the Hyaena thoroughly dislikes taking a bath. 

 Of all the animals so far referred to it is the least likely to embark 

 in such a venturous enterprise as a channel swim. Nor is there 

 any possible accidental mode of conveyance across the water that 

 I can suggest. It seems to me, therefore, that nothing short of a 

 wide land-bridge connecting Great Britain and Ireland could have 

 induced this creature to invade our shores. 



An Irish geologist who disliked the idea of such a land- 

 connection in recent geological times, suggested to me that some 

 of the species alluded to might possibly have crossed to Ireland 

 on an ice-bridge. He thought that the Irish Sea had been filled 

 by solid ice — an opinion which is held by many geologists — and 

 that the animals might have seized this opportunity for invading 

 Ireland. Whether there ever was such an ice-bridge I greatly 

 doubt, at any rate it is not a problem that I wish to discuss 

 to-night, but had there been such an ice-bridge, it is quite certain 

 that the Irish Elk, Mammoth, Hyaena, Wild Cat, and Badger 

 would not have availed themselves of this uninviting method of 

 visiting Ireland. The possible former existence of an ice-bridge, 



