EOCENE PERIOD 133 



wealth, along with cinnamon trees, camphor trees, laurels, 

 ivy growths, guelder-rose shrubs, and azaleas ; whilst here 

 and there yews, firs, pines, and cypresses recalled the sombre 

 sway of earlier times. In some parts of France walnut trees, 

 limes, alders, and willows were living in the neighbourhood of 

 bamboos, palms, tree-ferns, vines of Asiatic type, and many 

 plants of sub-tropical character. 



The association of these various growths is remarkable, 

 for one would suppose that the climate, so to speak, could 

 not befriend them all. One, therefore, is led to think that 

 plants had more plastic constitutions then than now. Adapta- 

 bility, however, had its limits, and as the Period advanced 

 troubles began. 



Much remains to be known about Eocene plant-life ; but 

 it is certain that, in some regions, it came to be seriously 

 affected by a great rise of temperature. England, for 

 instance — which was and had been from very early times 

 part and parcel of the continent — yields evidence of this. 

 It is clear, from remains of plant-life in the Eocene London 

 Clay, that before the Period was far advanced the heat must 

 have become excessively trying to some of the growths of 

 far northern origin. There is little doubt indeed that many 

 succumbed in consequence. Shrubs and trees well adapted to 

 higher temperature were ready to supply the vacancies ; and 

 naturally made the most of their opportunities. Sabal and 

 Nipa palms with fan-shaped leaves, Custard Apple trees, 

 and many species of Acacia extended their sway. Melons 

 and gourds revelled, and multiplied in the warmth. Very 

 different, therefore, was the vegetation from that now on 

 and about the site of London. And the scene was ren- 

 dered still more strange by the presence of crocodiles 

 and turtles, and the big gannet-like birds with notched 

 beaks. 



These climatic conditions were to continue for a long time. 

 The leaf-beds of Alum Bay and Bovey Tracey yield evidence 

 of a heat-loving vegetation in mid-Eocene times. Fan palms, 

 and feather palms, screw pines, eucalyptus, nettle, and 

 spindle trees, and various kinds of climbing plants, now more 

 or less confined to the tropics, adorned the scenes. Similar 



