12 [February, 1844. 



published in French; but not being ready, he immediately communicated with 

 the Geographical Institute, with the remark, however, that being written in a 

 language little known, he expects to ensure but few readers. He commences 

 by referring to the question of the coexistence of man with the extinct Terres- 

 trial mammiferous animals, as a point which the JNaturalists of the old world 

 have not been able to resolve decisively : that some few facts appear favourable 

 to an affirmative, but more to a negative solution ; that, though he has had an 

 opportunity to submit the question to a new examination in this part of the 

 world, he has not had proofs to arrive at a definite result, although his labors in 

 Zoology have terminated most happily. The geological archives of the history of 

 our planet are found (says the learned Doctor) in the caverns of the calcareous 

 rocks, which enter, as a constituent part, into the most extensive formations in the 

 interior of Brazil. The animals whose remains he has met, are for the most part 

 different from those which actually exist on the surface, showing that they be- 

 longed to a distinct creation. 



He has already examined nearly two hundred caverns. The species of 

 animals he has examined, of the mammiferous class alone, number one hundred 

 and fifteen, which much exceeds the number now existing of this class, which 

 he has reduced to eighty-eight. 



From the mutilated state in which they were generally found, it appears pro- 

 bable they owe their introduction to the beasts of prey of those times — the 

 denizens of those caverns — who carried them there to devour them. In the 

 midst of these testimonials of an order of things differing from the actual, he 

 had not the slightest vestige of the existence of man ; and if man had existed, 

 how could he have escaped the fate of animals stronger than he, who were vic- 

 tims of these ferocious and gigantic beasts of prey. This evidence he thought 

 sufficient to decide the question negatively, when he unexpectedly met the first 

 remains of the human species under circumstances- which, at least, admit of a 

 contrary solution. He found these remains in a cavern which contained mixed 

 with them bones of animals decidedly extinct ; (Platyonix Bucklandii, Chlamy- 

 dotherium Humboltii, C. majus, Dasypus sulcatus, Hydrochaerus sulcidens, 

 &c.) a circumstance which ought to call attention to these interesting relics. 

 Besides, they present all the characters of really fossil bones. They were in 

 part petrified, and in part penetrated with iron particles, which gave to them a 

 metallic lustre, resembling bronze, and at the same time an extraordinary 

 weight. Of the immense age of these remains there can be no doubt ; but, upon 

 the question of the coexistence with animals whose remains were found with 

 them, we cannot, unfortunately, arrive at a definite conclusion, as the cave is 

 situated on the margin of a lake whose waters rise annually, and in the rainy 

 season enter it ; so it is possible the remains of animals, now existing, might 

 have been more recently introduced, and mixed with those already deposited. 

 These bones are in different states of preservation ; some differing little from 

 new bones, while others approximate to the sub-metallic state already referred 

 to ; but the greater number occupy a grade of decomposition intermediate be- 

 tween the two extremes. 



A similar difference, but less conceivable, he noted among the human bones, 



