AURIGNAC. 319 



interesting grotto, or small cave, which was discovered some 

 years ago at Aurignac, in the south of France. A peasant 

 named Bonnemaison, seeing a rabbit run into a hole on a 

 steep slope, put his hand in, and to his surprise pulled out a 

 human bone. Curiosity urged him to explore farther, and on 

 removing a quantity of rubbish, he found a large block of 

 stone, which almost closed up the entrance to a small chamber, 

 in which were no less than seventeen human skeletons. 

 Unfortunately for science, the Mayor of Aurignac, hearing of 

 these discoveries, collected the human bones, had them re- 

 buried, and when M. Lartet some years afterwards explored 

 the cavern, they could not be found again. 



After carefully examining the locality, M. Lartet came to 

 the conclnsion that this small cavern had been used as a 

 burial-place, and from the remains of bones broken for marrow, 

 and marks of fire immediately outside the cave, he inferred 

 that funeral feasts had been held there. 



The following is the list of species determined by M. Lartet, 

 together with the approximate number of individuals belong- 

 ing to each : 



Number of individuals. 



1. Cave Bear (Ursus speloeus) 5 6 



2. Brown Bear ( U. arctos ?) 1 



3. Badger (Meles taxus) 1 2 



4. Polecat (Putorius vulgaris) 1 



5. Cave Lion (Felis spelcea) 1 



6. Wild Cat (F. catus) 1 



7. Hysena (Hyaena spelcea) 5 6 



8. Wolf (Canis lupus) 3 



9. Fox (C. wipes) 1820 



10. Mammoth (Eleplias primigenius). 



Two molars and an astragalus. 



11. Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros ticlwrhinus) . . 1 



12. Horse (Eqiius caballus) 12 15 



