DESIGNS OF FISHES, ETC. 



31 



" On one of these halves (represented as a flat surface) we see two heads, 

 one after the other, evidently referable to a bovine genus. We may add that 

 characters for a determination of the species are not altogether wantino-. The 



Fig. 37. — Outlines of two heads of the aurochs, a human figure, an eel (?j, two horse-heads, and three 

 rows of marks on a piece of reindeer-horu. La Madelaine. 



points of attachment and the direction of the horns suffice, for themselves, to 

 decide for the aurochs ; whilst, moreover, a more significant indication could not 

 be offered than the convexity of the forehead and the presence of hair-tufts, 

 both on the face and under the throat. 



" On the opposite side of the other half-cylinder (reproduced as a plane) we 

 see, in a medley of figures, sometimes upside down, first, a human form, with 

 the limbs not finished very incorrectly, although the face is without any expres- 

 sion — a negligence probably intentional on the part of the ancient artist, who 

 has perfectly characterized, close by it, a horse's head and part of its chest, with 

 their details pretty well rendered. More to the right we perceive a second horse's 

 head, not so well cut. To the left of and behind the human form, amongst rows 

 of dashes, or figures, of which we cannot comprehend either the intention or 

 value, there is an outline (reversed with respect to the other figures) of a serpent, 

 or rather of an eel with indications of the tail-fin ; * and its head, with mouth 

 open, approaches the leg of the human figure. In this bizarre group of figures, 

 or in the figures themselves, we avow we cannot see any intention or premeditated 

 arrangement ; and if others, more knowing, think that they here recognize the 

 expression of an allegory, or of any symbolism, we very willingly leave to them 

 the merit as well as the responsibility. "f 



*The italics are my own. 



j-Eeliqui^ Aquilanicic; II, p. 15; figure on B Plate II, 8a and 8b. 



