102 
Dr. J. ÉHIK 
delay in the northern withdrawel of the subarctic . microfauna, without 
being compelled to support a second glacial progression, the existence of 
which has been supposed by all the preceeding authors, 1 in order to 
explain hereby the „réapparition“ of the Lemmings, i. e. the existence of 
the upper Lemming-beds. The quoted secondary presence of the Lemmings 
is only due to their regression, taking place from South to North. It is 
impossible to presume that fossil Lemmings are only marking the limits of the 
extending ice , and not those of the withdrawing as well. And now we arrive 
to the point where we can state how fantastic must appear the supposi" 
tion of so-called „interglacial“ periods in the light of faunistical research. 
If the existence of only one interglacial period is admitted, there ought 
to be supposed two glacial periods, the number of Lemming-beds amoun¬ 
ting thus to at least four, and if two interglacial periods are presumed, 
three glacial periods would have existed, the respective strata containing 
as many as six Lemming-beds. These are fantastic numbers, no locality 
being known on which more than two Lemming-beds would occur, signali¬ 
sing first the extension and than the regression of the ice which took 
place, as stated above, already ivithin a single glacial period . 
The reason for the earlier false interpretations of the facts may be 
found in the circumstance that the warmer climate, setting in after the 
withdrawel of the ice, — and also proved by some faunistical changes 
seeming to indicate a rather less psychrophil fauna than the glacial one, — 
was followed by the reappearance of the Lemmings. 
Koken, Bayek and other authors remark that the climate was less 
warm after the regression of the ice than previously. 2 The simultaneous 
occurrence of arctic and steppe elements („mixed fauna“) has been 
explained by the mentioned authors quite simply supposing that the 
arctic animals — Lemmings — having migrated southwards, entered into 
the confines inhahited by the steppe forms, or that they were carried to 
the said territory by some carnivorous animals. These explanations are 
just as arbitrary and unnatural, as the preceeding one. If the artic forms 
would have really migrated later on into the more southern territory 
occupied by the steppe fauna, then this latter one ought to have existed 
earlier, in which case the preceeding strata — corresponding to this 
earlier period — ought to contain pure steppe elements. Nevertheless 
1 As regards the publications appeared during the war, i must confess of not 
being perfectly „au courant“ of them, a fact which, as I hope, might be excusable 
owing to the lack of international scientific communications. 
2 This observation might be just, but the explanation of the Lemmings second 
appearance being due to a second glaciation seems to be wrong. (Cfr. my preceeding 
statements.) 
