DID ANIMALS SURVIVE THE ICE AGE? 19 



available for plant life. Indeed, Professor Vanhoffen * who 

 describes the plants and animals observed during the expedi- 

 tion, adopts this attitude. He not only believes in the survival 

 of the flora of Greenland through the Ice Age, but he also 

 argues that the great mass of the fauna is indigenous to the 

 country. 



Though he does not deny the possibility of organisms 

 being accidentally carried by birds, and other occasional 

 means of transport, he protests against the assumption that 

 the fauna of Greenland, as a whole, owes its origin to such 

 a mode of conveyance. Dr. Brehmf quite concurs in this 

 view. He is convinced that the fauna of Greenland is 

 autochthonous. 



It is very generally believed that the climate of Greenland 

 was much colder during the Glacial Epoch than it is now, 

 although we possess no direct evidence that it was so. A 

 mild climate in South Greenland during the existence of the 

 land bridge is implied by the fact that a number of Euro- 

 pean species found in north-western North America, and 

 which no doubt travelled by way of Greenland, have since 

 become extinct in the latter country. 



Greenland must, therefore, have passed through a phase 

 during which existence became impossible for these species. 

 Yet, for all we know, it may be only quite recently that the 

 climate of Greenland has grown so inhospitable. It has been 

 suggested by Professor Whitney, and more recently by Sir 

 Henry Howorth, that the Arctic Regions enjoyed temperate 

 conditions during the Glacial Epoch and are only now passing 

 through the more severe post-Glacial stage. In view of the 

 accumulation of evidence pointing to a southward advance 

 of the Arctic fauna and flora in Pleistocene times, such a sug- 

 gestion may seem contrary to biological evidence. I shall 

 endeavour to show, however, in the next few chapters that 

 we possess a good deal of valuable testimony, principally of 

 a biological nature, in support of Professor Whitney's and Sir 

 Henry Howorth's contention. 



With regard to the species which I believe to have made use 



* Vanhoflen, E., " Gronland Expedition," Vol. II., p. 174. 

 t Brelim, V., " Entomostraken d. Danmark Expedition," p. 316. 



c 2 



