G. GENERAL NATURAL HISTORY AND ZOOLOGY. 227 



large and perfectly square. It is possible that this paragraph 

 refers to the skeleton the discovery of which, at Laugerie- 

 Basse, was lately announced to the Academy of Sciences in 

 Paris. This was obtained in carrying on excavations at a 

 great depth in one of the caves inhabited by the human race 

 during the Reindeer period. 2 J., April 27, 1872, 286. 



HUMAN SKELETON FROM A CAVE OF THE REINDEER PERIOD. 



It is well known that human bones have been seldom met 

 with in superficial deposits of the Reindeer period, although 

 the bones of animals used as food by man occur in great 

 abundance. Quite recently, however, in excavating a cele- 

 brated cave deposit in Laugerie-Basse (Dordogne), numerous 

 objects of great interest were obtained, among them remark- 

 able sculptures, representing animals, etc., together with im- 

 plements and utensils. The work was more or less inter- 

 rupted by the occurrence, all through the earth floor of the 

 caves, of enormous blocks of the rock, which appeared to 

 have fallen from the roof. In removing one of these for the 

 purpose of the better examining the subjacent earth, a skel- 

 eton was found, evidently that of a person who had been 

 struck down by the falling block and pinned there beyond 

 the power of his fellows to rescue him. 



A careful study was made of the surroundings of this skel- 

 eton, and about twenty shells of different species were found 

 immediately about it. These were distributed in pairs along 

 the body, two pairs in front, one near each humerus, four in 

 the region of the knees, and two upon each foot. These were 

 all pierced, and seemed to have been affixed as ornaments to 

 the clothing, which had entirely rotted away. 



The bones occurred about twelve feet below the surface 

 of the earth of the Reindeer period, beneath a layer of rocks 

 which, during the whole pre-quaternary period, must have re- 

 sisted every attempt to remove them, so that there can be 

 no doubt as to the great antiquity of the bones. 



A detailed description of the skeleton is promised by the 

 gentlemen who found it, Messrs. Massenat, Lalande, and Car- 

 tailhac. It is reported that this presents some extraordinary 

 peculiarities, shortly to be discussed. G ./?, April 15,1872, 

 10G0. 



