PRESIDENT 8 ADDRESS. 
349 
seeds. Now he has shown, in reference to various deposits of 
Pliocene and Post-Pliocene times, how much light may be thrown 
by their study on the former geographical distribution of species 
and on past climatic conditions. Referring to these discoveries, 
Mr. Carruthers has remarked that he was unable to carry the 
history of any existing species of plant beyond the period of the 
Cromer deposits.'"' 
The hypothetical pathways of geology afford much temptation to 
geologists — but without these diversions little progress could be 
made. Those who are content to be spectators may be amused at 
the halts, and stumbles, and occasional retreats of those who 
pursue these thorny ways. It is remarkable how different are the 
opinions that in turn prevail on such subjects as Metamorphism 
and the permanence of Ocean Basins. They need not much 
disturb the mind of the inquirer in Norfolk ; but he cannot fail to 
bo interested in the views enunciated by Professor Suess (of 
Vienna), on the fluctuations of sea-level ; and also in certain 
speculations on the Mammoth and the Flood, which have culminated 
in the ‘Glacial Nightmare’ of Sir Henry Howorth. The ideas put 
forth by Suess have attracted a large amount of attention, and 
they formed the themo of Professor James Geikie’s address, last 
year, to the Geographical Section of the British Association at 
Edinburgh, t 
It has been generally held that the sea has been fairly stationary, 
while the land has been subjected to repeated upheaval and de- 
pression. It has been admitted that contraction of the mass of 
the earth might give to the sea a relatively larger bulk ; that great 
terrestrial movements must locally modify the water-level ; and 
that the freezing and melting of large masses of ice in the polar 
regions, during and after glacial episodes, must have had some 
effect on the ocean. 
The views now brought forward, to a certain extent, recall old 
notions of the raising of the sea-level, but they are based on a 
wider general knowledge of facts. There are still many things to 
* Address to biological Section. Brit. Assoc. 1886. 
t Published (with map) in the Scottish Geographical Magazine for Sept. 1892. 
VOL. V. 
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