BIMANA. 423 



a zoological species, would possess an antiquity considerably 

 greater than that of many of the higher Mollusca. 



2. The antiquity of the so-called Post- Pliocene period is 

 a matter which must be mainly settled by the evidence of 

 Geology proper, and need not be discussed here. 



3. The extinct Mammals with which man coexisted in 

 Western Europe are mostly of large size, the most important 

 being the Mammoth {Elephas primigenius), the Woolly Pthino- 

 ceros (Bhinoceros ticliorinus), the Cave -Hon {Felis spclcca),, 

 the Cave-hysena {Hymna spelma), and the Cave-bear {Ursus 

 spelceus). We do not know the causes whicli led to the ex- 

 tinction of these Post-Pliocene Mammals ; but we know that 

 no Mammalian species has become extinct during the his- 

 torical period. 



4. The extinct Mammals witli which man coexisted are 

 referable in many cases to species which presumably required 

 a very different climate to tliat now prevailing in Western 

 Europe. How long a period, however, has been consumed 

 in the bringing about of the climatic changes thus indicated, 

 we have no means of calculating with any approach to 

 accuracy. 



5. Some of the deposits in whicli the remains of man 

 have been found associated with the bones of extinct Mam- 

 mals, are such as to show incontestably that great changes 

 in the physical geography and surface-configuration of West- 

 ern Europe have taken place since the period of their accum- 

 ulation. We have, however, no means at present of judging 

 of the lapse of time thus indicated except by analogies and 

 comparisons which may be disputed ; though the general 

 conclusion that it was a very long and extended one may 

 be safely accepted. 



6. The human implements which are associated with the 

 remains of extinct Mammals, themselves bear evidence of an 

 exceedingly barbarous condition of the human species. Post- 

 Pliocene or "Palaeolithic" Man was clearly unacquainted with 

 the use of any of the metals. Not only so, but the work- 

 manship of these ancient races was much inferior to that of 

 the later tribes, who were also ignorant of the metals, and 

 who also used nothing but weapons and tools of stone. 



