"At the close of the Tertiary age, which ends the long series of geological epochs previous to the Quaternary, the landscape of Europe had, in the main, assumed its modern appearance. The middle era of this age--the Miocene--was characterized by tropical plants, a varied and imposing fauna, and a genial climate, so extended as to nourish forests of beeches, maples, _walnuts_, poplars, and _magnolias in Greenland and Spitzbergen_, while an exotic vegetation hid the exuberant valleys of England."[2] Dr. Dawson says: "This delightful climate was not confined to the present temperate or tropical regions. It extended to the very shores of the Arctic Sea. In _North_ Greenland, at Atane-Kerdluk, in latitude 70° north, at an elevation of more than a thousand feet above the sea, were found the remains of beeches, oaks, pines, poplars, maples, _walnuts, magnolias, limes_, and _vines_. The remains of similar plants were found in Spitzbergen, in latitude 78° 56'."[3] Dr. Dawson continues: "Was the Miocene period on the whole a better age of the world than that in which we live? In some respects it was. Obviously, there was in the northern hemisphere a vast surface of land under a mild and equable climate, and clothed with a rich and varied vegetation. Had we lived in the Miocene we might have sat under our own vine and fig-tree equally in Greenland and Spitzbergen and in those more southern climes to which this [1. "Popular Science Monthly," October, 1878, p. 648. 2. L. P. Gratacap, in "American Antiquarian," July, 1881, p. 280. 3. Dawson, "Earth and Man," p. 261.] {p. 45} privilege is now restricted. . . . Some reasons have been adduced for the belief that in the Miocene and Eocene there were intervals of cold climate; but the evidence of this may be merely local and exceptional, and does not interfere with the broad characteristics of the age."[1] Sir Edward Belcher brought away from the dreary shores of Wellington Channel (latitude 75° 32' north) portions of a tree which there can be no doubt whatever had actually grown where be found it. The roots were in place, in a frozen mass of earth, the stump standing upright where it was probably overtaken by the great winter.[2] Trees have been found, _in situ_, on Prince Patrick's Island, in latitude 76° 12' north, _four feet in circumference_. They were so old that the wood had lost its combustible quality, and refused to burn. Mr. Geikie thinks that it is possible these trees were pre-glacial, and belonged to the Miocene age. They may have been the remnants of the great forests which clothed that far northern region when the so-called glacial age came on and brought the Drift.