OR, GREAT IRISH DEER 221 
its extinction ; as well as to the order of a succession of events in the 
prehistoric dawn, Indications of the presence of man must be looked 
for as following in natural. sequence to the geological reconstruction 
of specific areas, and their evidences of climatic changes in the post- 
glacial period. Sir John Lubbock remarks in his “ Prehistoric 
Times,” when referring to the Cervus megaceros : .“‘ Though there is 
no longer any doubt that this species coexisted with man, the evi- 
dence of this has been obtained from the bone-caves, and from strata 
_ belonging to the age of the river-drift gravels. No remains of the 
Trish elk have yet been found in association with bronze ; nor indeed 
are we aware of any which can be referred to the later, or Neolithic 
Age.” When the subject was under discussion at the meeting of the 
British Association at Dublin, Professor W. G. Adams affirmed most 
definitely the co-existence of paleeolithic man and the fossil elk ; while 
admitting the absence of any such evidence where the remains of the 
latter are now found in greatest abundance. ‘There is,” he said, “ no 
evidence that in Ireland man existed contemporary with the dega- 
ceros, or had any thing to do with its extinction ; whereas we have 
authentic evidences of the coexistence of man with this animal in 
England.” 
This -conclusion, however consistent with the proofs thus far 
obtained, cannot as yet be recognized as one so absolutely settled 
as to render further research superfluous. Whistles formed of 
phalanges of the reindeer are among the most characteristic imple- 
ments of the more ancient French caves; and one found by M. E. 
Piette, in 1871, along with various flint implements, in the Cavern 
of Gourdan (Haute-Garonne), pierced not only with a mouth-piece, 
but with finger-holes along the sides, is aptly described by him as a 
neolithic flute. There is nothing therefore in the mere design or 
workwanship of the primitive Irish lyre incompatible with its execu- 
tion at the period when the Irish elk survived; if it can be shown 
that it was coeval with man in Ireland. Professor Boyd Dawkins 
when drawing attention to the fact that out of 48 well ascertained 
species living in the palaeolithic period, only 31 are found surviving 
into the neolithic period, adds: ‘ The cave bear, cave lion, and cave 
hyena had vanished away, along with a whole group of pachyderms ; 
and of all the extinct animals, but one, the Irish elk, still survived.” 
There is indeed something peculiar and exceptional in this magniii- 
cent deer which so specially claims a place among the extinct mii- 
