Tooth-marks of Thylacoleo. 103 



edge skidded along the surface, taking with it a thin slice of 

 the bone. Fig. 1, Plate XXXVII., brings us nearer the curved 

 cuts seen onsonieof the described specimens, and it maybe regarded 

 as an intermediate stage between those specimens and Fig. 8, 

 Plate XXXYI., just dealt with. We see in this example the work 

 of the same instrument, only it has here cut the bone at a much more 

 upright angle, and, consequently, a curved incision, 4 mm. in 

 width, has been made across one corner of the bone to a depth 

 of between 2 and 3 mm. TTie severance of the corner from, the 

 main part of the bone by a continuance of the cut would 

 have yielded a form almost identical with Fig. 2, Plate 

 XXXVII., in which a similar cut had passed obliquely 

 through the bone. The evidence is conclusive that the bones 

 have been operated on by some object capable of making a clean 

 cut through as much as 7 mm. of solid bone, and we know 

 of no implement possessed by the Australian aborigine with which 

 this could be done. For the purpose of obtaining the marrow, 

 man would most certainly smash the bones in the easiest way 

 possible, as he does at the present day, and, apart from this, it 

 is difficult to surmise what object led him to make these cuts, 

 supposing he did so, for they fail to reveal any evidence that 

 they were formed during the process of manufacture of any 

 implement, weapon or personal ornament. 



We therefore conclude that there is nO evidence indicative 

 of the fact that man took any part whatever in the creation 

 of the remarkable cuts under discussion. 



On the other liand, the information gained by a study of the 

 whole of the specimens at our disposal tends strongly to sup- 

 port the conclusion that the work in question is that of a bone- 

 eating animal, but it must be conceded that his jaws were 

 immensely powerful, and his teeth capable of making cuts of 

 a form that might well create a feeling of scepticism in regard 

 to the existence of such a creature. As Thylacoleo is the only 

 animal known possessing teeth anything approaching the de- 

 scription required, we have experimented with the idea of ascer- 

 taining whether it is possible to imitate the diversity of cuts 

 and markings on the various described specimens, witli the aid 

 of the teeth of that beast. In this Avay, using modelling clay 

 to represent the bones, we found that all those surface scorings 

 which are sufficiently defined for us to be sure of their artificial 



