OLIGOCENE PERIOD 
Now lifts its dripping shoulders, as might be 45 
A sea-god from his fellows breaking free ; 
And banks and islets spring up here and there, 
As mermaids might, to bask in sunny air. 
Then, bolder grown, does Afric show her hand, 
To link her terrane with Hispania's land ; 50 
And continents, long parted by the sea, 
Become by slow degrees linked territory. 
And wandering life from regions far away 
To "fresh woods" now, and "pastures new" can stray. 
Warm airs are playing on Europa's plains, 55 
And plant life thrives, refreshed by copious rains. 
Trees as in " new dawn " days still flourish here ; 
And Gum-trees now inhale the genial air. 
Rich Custard-apples, fine-grained Spindle trees, 
Distil their fragrance in the balmy breeze ; 60 
And ferns, palms fan and feather here display 
A wealth as in sub-tropic lands to-day. 
About the marshlands thick-skinned creatures range 
More numerous now, and still of aspect strange. 
Old blended forms are still upon the scene, 65 
Some stranded Hippopotami between 
And Swine. But forms for Tapir status bound 
Have now, at last, their destined haven found. 
Whilst beasts, of Lophiodon descent, appear 
Less Tapir, more Rhinoceros, than they were 70 
