108 ANCIENT FORESTS OF THE COAST. 
shall presently adduce, shewing that at some repiote 
period, the level of the sea was even far below what 
it now is, but it is not material to decide whether 
that state was assumed immediately on the retreat¬ 
ing of the diluvial waters, or by gradual or sudden 
subsidence in some period afterwards. 
Subsequently to the occurrence of the Deluge, 
animal and vegetable existence again attained to 
its ordained condition in the prescribed series of 
improved developments of organic forms, and in 
additions to the catalogue of species. Not only 
the present race of animals, but many also now 
exterminated by human means, had undisputed 
dominion on our lands. Forests of wonderful 
extent afforded them the needful shelter ; these ex¬ 
tended to the very limits of the land seawards, 
and not only sheltered the wild creatures of that 
period, but gave'protection to the aboriginal occu¬ 
pants of the soil. Around the entire coast of Great 
Britain, submerged forests have been detected in 
the sand and shingle immediately within the limits 
of the water on the full ebb of spring tides,—attest¬ 
ing that at an ancient period the Island had a 
greater elevation than now, above the sea. These 
relics, consisting of species now growing with us,— 
the oak , beech , hazel , fyc. have been noticed in a 
variety of situations on the northern, eastern, and 
western coasts, but still more so on the southern ; 
they have been found on the shores of the Isle of 
Wight, on the shores of several southern counties, 
on the shores of the Channel Isles, and with us have 
been noticed in Mount’s Bay, in Torbay, at Polperro, 
at Boveysand, at Sandy-cove adjoining Plymouth, 
in the bed of the Lara, and in some other spots. 
Neither are there deficient evidences of a like kind 
inland;—the roots, branches, and even leaves of 
trees (fir , beech , oak , hazel , and alder) have been 
exposed to light at considerable depths in the peat 
