4 GUIDE TO THE FOSSIL MAMMALS AND BIKDS. 



Wall-case For this comparatively modem geological epoch, however, 

 p. *■ they have furnished a nearly complete idea of the human 

 Table-case' raees ana ^ e animal life inhabiting western Europe at 

 1. least ; and a typical collection of remains illustrating this 

 story is exhibited in Wall-case 1, Pier-case 2, Table-case 1, 

 and two adjoining special frames. 

 Pier-case 2. The western portion of continental Europe in the Pleisto- 

 cene period included the British Isles, which had not at that 

 time been separated from the mainland. The probable 

 extent of the land is shown by a map on the pillar adjoining 

 Pier-case 2. The hollow at present occupied by the North 

 Sea would then be a wide valley or plain through which 

 rivers flowed ; and it was inhabited by troops of mammals 

 whose remains lie scattered in abundance over the Dogger 

 Bank and other portions of the existing floor of the sea. 

 These bones and teeth are continually dredged up by the 

 fishermen, and a typical series of them, from the collection 

 of Mr. J. J. Owles, of Great Yarmouth, is shown in Pier- 

 case 2. Here there is evidence of wolf, hyaena, bear, beaver, 

 ox, bison, an extinct fallow-deer (G. brovmi), Irish deer, rein- 

 deer, elk, horse, woolly rhinoceros, and mammoth. Though 

 the specimens were doubtless originally buried in the sands 

 and gravels deposited by the rivers, they must have been 

 washed out by the scour of the tides and currents, for they 

 have lain for some time exposed on the sea-bed, as shown 

 by the remains of serpulae, oyster spat, and other marine 

 organisms upon them. 

 Wall-case As proved by the fragmentary bones and teeth exhibited 

 Pier-case 2 ^ ^ail-case 1 and Pier-case 2, the British ca^eras yield 



evidence of a remarkable series of mammals living together 



in this part of Europe during the Pleistocene period, some 

 being now confined to the Arctic Eegions, others to the 

 Tropics, others still living here, and some now quite 

 extinct. The complete list (except rats, mice, etc.) is as 



follows : 



Northern and Arctic Mammalia. 



Glutton (Qulo luscus). 



Arctic Fox {Cards lagopus). 



Beindeer (Ba/ngifer tarandus). 



Lemming (My odes lemnws and Cuniculus torquatus). 



Pica (Lagomys pusillus). 



Marmot {Arctomys marmottd). 



Souslii (Spermophilus erythrogenoides). 



