On the Phenomena of the Glacial Epoch. 247 



perate sphere ; while the influence of an arctic stream, 

 laden with islands of floating ice, might so chill the atmo- 

 sphere of Western Europe, that our hills and valleys, now 

 mantled with green, would be covered again with glaciers 

 and perpetual snow. 



If professor Frankland's assumption be correct ; if, as he 

 supposes, " the effects of the glacial period were felt all over 

 the globe, — if it was preceded by a period of indefinite 

 duration, in which glacial action was altogether awanting, 

 or was at least comparatively insignificant," we must ascribe 

 the phenomena of that epoch to some agency at present 

 unknown ; but if we adopt the opinion, held we believe by 

 many geologists, that the glacial period was not contempo- 

 raneous all over the earth, the natural agencies at present 

 in operation may, with the utmost probability, be regarded 

 as having produced all the peculiar phenomena of that 

 rigorous time. 



We conclude by suggesting some questions for the con- 

 sideration of practical geologists. 



1. Are there any traces of glacial action, or other 

 evidences of extreme cold, to be found among relics of for- 

 mations preceding the pliocene 1 



2. Have we not reason to suspect that those strata which 

 exhibit no trace of organic remains, and which some have 

 looked on as proofs of a time when darkness and desolation 

 spread over the globe, originated in the operation of the 

 agencies we have been examining ? Are they not the 

 effects of the glacial influences of earlier times ? 



A conversation followed, in which the Rev. Thomas Brown, 

 Mr David Page, Mr Catton, Dr M'Bain, and Mr W. Khind 

 took part ; and a vote of thanks was given to the Rev. Mr 

 Brodie for his interesting and suggestive communication. 



