Journal of Proceedings. xxxvii
Croll, but it was only rendered possible by the concurrence of geo-
graphical conditions, then recently brought about, by which the greater
part of the warm water of the Tropics which had before entered the
Polar seas was shut out from them by the elevation and solidification
of the great Northern Continents. This continued growth and exten-
sion of the land in the Northern Continent during the Tertiary period
has been long known to geologists, but its importance as affecting the
most powerful of all climatal agencies—northward flowing and heat-
bearing ocean currents—appears to have been hitherto overlooked.
By thus modifying Mr. Croll's theory, giving greater importance to
ocean currents and comparatively less to astronomical causes, Mr.
Wallace believed that the difficulties that had hitherto beset all
attempts to explain the mild climates of the Arctic Regions, so as to
satisfy both geologists and physicists, might be overcome; and in his
forthcoming work, "Island Life," he had endeavoured to demonstrate
the correctness of these views. (Loud applause.)
Mr. Worthington Smith, F.L.S., in thanking Sir Antonio Brady and
Mr. Henry Walker for their great and valuable assistance during the
afternoon, suggested that caution should be exercised before concluding
that the "ogee" curves on the edges of the American instrument had
been actually designed ; similar curves being frequent on Flint Imple-
ments of all ages and from diverse places, the curves commonly arising
from the natural conchoidal fracture of the flint. In reference to the
sculptured subjects said to have been derived from a deposit of Glacial
age, Mr. Smith said that from the brief examination he had been able
to make of them, he looked upon the carvings as undoubted modern
fabrications ; though found by Sir Antonio himself, yet it must be
remembered objects are sometimes so placed by designing workmen
that they may be apparently found by an unwary visitor. The carvings
referred to by Mr. Wallace as Neolithic works from Caves
were really Palaeolithic, and of an immensely greater antiquity than
Neolithic work. As to the polished Celt said to have been
found in five feet of gravel at Barking Side, Mr. Smith said he had
no doubt that this was an error of observation, and that the
Celt did not point to the comparative modern epoch of the Mammoth,
or the great antiquity of the men who polished their stone weapons.
He thought there could be no doubt that this Celt was British or
Neolithic, and was originally embedded in the surface soil. Gravel
diggers, in making a "fall" with their crowbars, throw surface-soil,
loam, sand, and gravel all down to the bottom of the pit together; and
although this Celt was no doubt found at the bottom of the pit, yet it
undoubtedly belonged to the modern soil at the top. Such instances
were common ; Neolithic implements and flakes being profusely spread
over Esses, nothing was more frequent than the finding of some com-
paratively modern object at the bottom of a gravel pit. The colour as