MODIFICATION OF THEORY EXAMINED. 117 



seems to indicate that the climatic conditions of the 

 two hemispheres were at the period of the Carse-clays 

 the reverse of what they are at present. During that 

 period the sea stood higher in relation to the land than 

 it does at the present time. To this circumstance 

 alone no great importance can be attached ; but when 

 we consider, in addition, that submergence has almost 

 invariably accompanied glaciation, we may regard it 

 as highly probable that the submergence at the period 

 in question was the result of a greater amount of ice 

 on the northern hemisphere and a less amount on the 

 southern than now. This probability is further in- 

 creased by the fact that during the growth of the 

 ancient Forest, which immediately underlies the Carse- 

 clays, and indicates a condition of climate even more 

 warm and equable than the present* the sea stood 

 not only higher in relation to the land than it did 

 during the time of the deposition of the Carse-clays, 

 but somewhat higher than it does at present. The 

 buried Forest, doubtless, belongs to the period 10,000 

 or 12,000 years prior to that of the Carse-clays,-f* when 

 the winter solstice was in perihelion; and at this time, 

 owing to a somewhat greater amount of eccentricity 

 than at present, the quantity of ice on the southern 

 hemisphere might be expected to be greater, and that 

 on the northern less, than now. 



Thus, when the northern winters were last in 

 aphelion there was a rise of sea-level, resulting, 

 doubtless, from a preponderance of ice on the 

 northern hemisphere ; but when the buried Forest 

 flourished, 10,000 or 12,000 years prior, the winters 



* Those who doubt the equable and warmer character of the climate 

 of the submarine Forest-bed period should study the mass of evidence 

 on this point given in "Prehistoric Europe." 



f For the probable dates of the Carse-clays and the submarine 

 Forest-beds, see 'Climate and Time,' p. 407. 



