Implement and Bones of Extinct Kangaroo. 85 



the bone in position for this purpose, the tip of the middle finger 

 falls into the hollow (Fig. 1/?) and the base of the index on the 

 flattened area (Fig. la) ; it is therefore not altogether unlikely 

 that these abrasions of its surface are evidence of laborious usage 

 if they were not superinduced on depressions purposely made in 

 aid of the grasp. While the head of the rib remained attached 

 to the working part of the shaft, the whole implement had a 

 length sufficient for the employment of both hands, and effective- 

 ness proportionate to the leverage obtained and power applied. 



But though it may be thought beyond cavil that this bone has 

 been purposely shaped, a question quite as important remains for 

 settlement. When did it take its present form — as a green bone, 

 or as a fossil 1 In other words, is it genuine or fictitious ? 

 Doubt as to tlie validity of its pretensions rose strongly and 

 persisted obstinately in the mind of the writer when he found 

 that from a similar piece of Nototherium rib he could with a 

 pen-knife carve a very fair imitation of the fossil. But scepti- 

 cism has succumbed to the explanation and assurances he has 

 received during a lengthened correspondence with Mr. Hart and 

 Mr. Vale, fortified by a statutory declaration of Mr. N. Kent, 

 manager of the mine, to the efiect tiiat he received from the 

 workmen the fossil covered with dirt, with a number of others in 

 the same investment, and handed it in that condition to Mr. 

 Vale. It is, of course, to be said that Mr. Kent's declaration 

 does not go to the root of the matter. It does not disavouch 

 the possibility that one of those who exhumed tliese bones and 

 delivered them to Mr. Kent, had the opportunity, will, and 

 ability to fabricate the one in question. We may, however, be 

 content to set a"ainst this defect the unlikelihood that among 

 the Ballarat miners there was one so far acquainted with ethno- 

 logy as to know how to convert with so much skill a piece of 

 bone into a scraper, or be led to do so by a knowledge of the 

 interest that would attach to it; or, having done so, neglected to 

 identify himself and his interests with the spurious discovery. 

 He must have been a remarkably clever forger who, under the 

 circumstances, made the chief nick exactly as it would be left by 

 a stone tomahawk and not with a continuous surface ; and who, 

 moreover, carefully coloured that surface to disguise its rawness. 

 How different its colour is to that of a fresh incision was ascer 



