PROCEEDINGS OF GEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES. 



31 



the submerged area towards the close of the glacial epoch began to be re-elevated 

 and to rise again out of the waters, the Mephas primigenius and some of its 

 associates which were able to outstaucl the inclemency of that severe period, 

 wandered back over their ancient territory, and mingled with the newer forms 

 which similarly had wandered from other regions during the changes of land 

 and sea ; and thus the northern and the perhaps southern forms met together 

 in the same temperate zone. We know from Ed. Forbes' studies that the 

 mollusca of our district migrated thus during the glacial age into Italy, and 

 that some have since returned to our shores, while others have not yet reached 

 again their ancient habitats, but are steadily working on towards it. We know 

 also that in the deep holes and pits of the ocean there still are colonies of the old 

 northern forms which spreading over the submerged area of those cold times 

 have not been able to extricate themselves from such cavities, from which their 

 dwarfed descendants are now to be dragged up. This is a speculation which I 

 throw out for young and active geolgists to take up. My time is too fully 

 occupied with the business and cares of life to allow me to devote much time 

 now to field-studies, but there are many who are glad of holidays, and who will 

 be glad to know what is useful work to do in their pleasure-takings ; for them 

 it is I throw out these ideas, not being selfish enough to wish to retain them 

 when I cannot myself work them out. 



Iu some of the Glamorganshire caves Colonel Wood and Dr. Falconer have 

 found a deposit containing Littorina (perriwinkle) shslls, and which deposit is 

 comparable with the deposit often associated with the raised beaches of our 

 coasts known to geologists under the name of " head," and which is equivalent 

 to parts of the so-termed sub-aerial deposits of Mr. God win- Austen. Both 

 above and below the cave-deposits, containing recent species of marine shells, 

 the bones and grinders of Mephas primigenius are found, as they are also in 

 other places, commingled with the remains of the hitherto supposed younger 

 and older races of the ancient mammalia. 



With respect to the ancient mammoth, we know that it was clothed with a 

 coating of long hair, by which and its thick skin it was well provided against the 

 inclemencies of the glacial age ; but how is it with the hippopotamus — so like, 

 so uudistinguishable from the existing H. major, the inhabitant of torrid climes. 

 I confess this creature's remains are a puzzle to me ; for granted that it could 

 withstand the cold of that period, our knowledge of the present habits of the 

 species does not permit us to believe that it could subsist without water. 



But I will proceed no further with the discussion of the habits of the great 

 mammalia. I wished to exhibit in its true state the knowledge we possess of 

 the first relics of the human race, and to point out the marks and character 

 which indicate on the worked flints the evidences of human handling. 



PROCEEDINGS OF GEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES. 



Geological Society oe London. — November 21, 1860. 



" On the Geology of Bolivia and Southern Peru." By D. Forbes, Esq., 

 F.U.S., F.G.S. With Notes on the Fossils by Prof. Huxley, F.R.S, Sec. G.S., 

 and J. W. Salter, Esq, F.G.S. 



The author described the Post-Tertiary formations of the maritime district. 

 These beds, containing existing species of shells, occur at various heights up to 

 forty feet above the sea-level. Guano deposits are frequent along the coast, 

 and deposits of salt also in raised beaches a little above the sea. The author 



