THE SEQUOIA 827 



ancient glacial system is clear. And when we 

 bear in mind that all the existing forests of the 

 Sierra are growing on comparatively fresh mo- 

 raine soil, and that the range itself has been 

 recently sculptured and brought to light from 

 beneath the ice -mantle of the glacial winter, 

 then many lawless mysteries vanish, and harmo- 

 nies take their places. 



But notwithstanding all the observed phe- 

 nomena bearing on the post-glacial history of 

 this colossal tree, point to the conclusion that it 

 never was more widely distributed on the Sierra 

 since the close of the glacial epoch ; that its 

 present forests are scarcely past prime ; if, in- 

 deed, they have reached prime ; that the post- 

 glacial day of the species is probably not half 

 done ; yet, when from a wider outlook the vast 

 antiquity of the genus is considered, and its 

 ancient richness in species and individuals, com- 

 paring our Sierra giant and Sequoia sempervi- 

 rens of the coast, the only other living species, 

 with the many fossil species already discovered, 

 and described by Heer and Lesquereux, some of 

 which flourished over large areas around the 

 Arctic Circle, and in Europe and our own terri- 

 tories, during tertiary and cretaceous times, — 

 then, indeed, it becomes plain that our two sur- 

 viving species, restricted to narrow belts within 

 the limits of California, are mere remnants of 

 the genus both as to species and individuals, and 



