406 
The last argument I shall adduce in support of this point, 
is founded on the fact that many species of animals which are 
known to have existed previously to the Giant Deer, or have 
been its contemporaries, are still common, or have been extir- 
pated during historic times. In Ireland, the remains of the 
Red Deer frequently occur with those of the Megaceros in the 
lacustrine marls. Fragments of shed horns of the Red Deer 
were found in Kirkdale Cave, and also in Kent's Hole, at 
Torquay, associated with the horns of the Megaceros 
and Strongyloceros, all of which show the effects of gnawing, 
and consequently indicate that all three species co-existed in 
England with the Hyaena. Remains of the Bear, Badger, 
Otter, Beaver, Wolf, Fox, Hare, Rabbit, Water Rat, Bank- 
vole, Pole-cat, and Stoat, have been found not distinguishable 
from the present species, and which were ail contemporaries 
of the Megaceros and the large Pachyderms. Here then, it 
is extremely difficult to comprehend how some of these animals 
so minute should have continued from pre-adamite periods 
down to our own times without any special protection, which, 
from their very nature, they are not likely to have had ; and 
how can we be certain that the remainder, or, at least, the 
majority of them may not also have been contemporary with 
man, as some of the former have ceased to exist in Britain, 
in consequence of the physical changes in the surface of the 
country, as well as from man's persecution ; and it would be 
quite as hopeless now to expect to find a recent Bear, Wolf, or 
Beaver, as it would a Megaceros or a Mammoth ? Yet we 
know that all the former have inhabited Britain during historic 
period when the Isle of Man presented the general outline which it does now, 
when a gradual submergence to the depth of 1,600 feet took place, after the deposit 
of the Boulder Clay formation. Secondly, a quiet and continuous emergence took 
place of sufficient extent to lay dry the whole area of the Irish sea, and thus to 
connect the Isle of Man with the surrounding countries, and these countries with 
each other, and over the plain so formed the Megaceros Hibernicus immigrated 
into these regions, as its remains are buried in fresh water deposits, formed in 
depressions of the drift gravel. Subsequently and lastly, a period of subsidence 
occurred to a partial extent, which again soparated the two islands." — Journal of 
the Gtoloy iad Society, 185-1, No. 38, p. 215. 
