312 ANNALS NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



Schmidt). On the other hand, Kobelt^^^ and Scharff^^® agree in think- 

 ing that the presence of Steppe mammals affords inadequate proof of the 

 steppe character of the countr}^ in Inter- and Postglacial times. The de- 

 posits of the "]S*ewev Loess" in Postglacial times point to a dry steppe 

 period because according to the theory of Eichthofen, which is now gen- 

 erally accepted, the loess owes its origin to wind-borne dust and sand 

 acting under the influence of a dry climate either in summer or winter. 

 The Steppe Fauna in deposits at several points is shown to have lin- 

 gered longer than the Tundra fauna. As regards the lingering of the 

 Steppe Fauna it is indicated in the succession of the three rodents char- 

 acteristic of the Tundra, Steppe and Forest conditions respectively, 

 namely : 



Forest climate and conditions, the squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) 

 Steppe climate and conditions, the jerboa (Alactaga jaculus) 

 Tundra climate and conditions, the banded lemming {My odes torquatus) 



The absence of fossil plants in the deposits of the steppe period is due 

 to the unfavorable conditions for the preservation of plant remains. 

 Small stretches of woodland were probably confined to the. banks of 

 rivers, to favorable mountain slopes, etc. The flora was probably like that 

 of eastern Eurasia or southwestern Siberia to-day. In their migrations 

 such animals as the jerboa which were unable to swim presumably crossed 

 the rivers while frozen over. 



Saiga. — Of the Steppe fauna (fully described on p. 248) the saiga 

 antelope (Saiga tartarica) has at the present time retreated to the steppes 

 of eastern Europe and western Siberia. This animal is represented in the 

 carvings and engravings of Upper Palaeolithic or late Magdalenian times 

 in the Dordogne region of France. Its fossil remains have been found in 

 thirteen localities in southwestern France in association with a cold 

 steppe fauna. In the same region have been found remains of the musk 

 ox (Ovihos). 



SURVIVAL OF FOREST AND MEADOW FAUN'A 



The final retreat of the cold faunas of the tundras and steppes occurred 

 during the late stages of the Upper Palaeolithic Magdalenian culture. 

 The most advanced Magdalenian art continues to represent the woolly 

 mammoth in the cavern of Font de Gaume (Dordogne) and elsewhere, 

 but in the very latest Magdalenian culture stages it would appear that 

 the mammoth and woolly rhinoceros were becoming rare. This final 



108 KOBELT, W. : Die Verbreitung der Tierwelt. Gemassigte Zone. Leipzig, 1902. 

 i°» SCHARFF, R. F. : The History of the European Fauna. London, 1899. 



