2\j(>fh-iiiarli8 of Thylacoleo. 113 



that the bone Avas gripped by the tooth in such a way as to 

 leave an untouched part opposite the concavity in the external 

 surface of the tooth. 



If such an explanation is deemed unsatisfactory, there can 

 only be one alternative — that is, that it was the work of man, 

 for there is no indication that the cut was made by any natural 

 agency. 



The Buchan bone fails to convey any idea that the cut was 

 made to serve any useful p'urpose whatever, although it is 

 conceivable it might have been incidentally caused in chopping 

 flesh off the bone with a stone axe, a procedure most unlikely, 

 not only on account of it being a practice not adopted by the 

 natives, but also because the flesh on that part is a negligible 

 quantity. 



As in many caves, the bones found at Buchan appear to be 

 odd, scattered and often fragmentary'-, nothing like a complete 

 skeleton of any kind having been discovered. Also, in a number 

 of cases, they shoAv tooth marks of animals which have been 

 gnawing them. 



It is improbable that the herbivorous animals whose remains 

 were found in the caves would frequent places where their 

 natural enemies would be encountered. Moreover, the larger 

 forms could not possibly have entered most of the caves by the 

 present openings; hence, if they obtained admittance, or fell 

 in, or if their bodies were washed in, it must have been 

 through pre-existing entrances. The occurrence of the bones pre- 

 cludes the acceptance of the last view, although there is evidence 

 that this particular cave was formed from, what were at one 

 time two distinct caves, as the remnants of a false roof made up 

 of material originally deposited on the floor of an upper cave, 

 are still to be seen. It is possible in this case that the com- 

 plete remains of animals which may have fallen or been washed 

 into the upper cave through an opening now closed were pre- 

 cipitated into the lower one when the false roof collapsed, 

 thereby breaking and scattering the bones. In all probability 

 most of the remains were originally carried into the caves by 

 predatory beasts, and there eaten and gnawed. 



The Australian aborigine as we know him, though we do not 

 know whether he differs materially in being more supe-rsti- 



9 



