1823.] Mr. Weaver on Fossil Human Bones. 23 



chronology, And the tradition of such a deluge, preserved 

 among all nations, now appears further confirmed by the instruc- 

 tive documents lying before us. 



The following are the remains of bones hitherto found in the 

 gypsum quarries near Kbstritz, almost all of which are in my 

 possession. 



1. Of Man. — A perfectly preserved forehead, extending to 

 one-half of the orbits of the eyes. The upper maxillae, with the 

 teeth mostly well preserved. The left side of the pelvis of a 

 man, the left humerus, the right and left ossa femoris. The 

 right thigh bone is in a more altered state than any of the other 

 bones; and hence it is much heavier, having been found, accord- 

 ing to the statement of the workmen, near the outcrop of a fissure. 

 Beside these, some other fragments of human bones are con- 

 tained in collections at Gera, and in that of the Natural History 

 Society at Altenburg. All these bones are of a rather large, yet 

 not unusual size, and certainly not of a gigantic stature, as 

 stated by loose report. 



2. Bones of ruminating animals, of the same description as 

 those found in the fissures and cavities of the limestone near 

 Politz, among which the deer's horns appear in a similar manner 

 deprived of their animal gluten, or calcined, as it were. 



3. Bones derived from animals closely resembling the sheep 

 and the roe, although not wholly coinciding with the bones of the 

 recent species. 



4. The lower right jaw, with several dorsal vertebrae and 

 hollow bones, of an animal very nearly allied to the squirrel 

 (sciurus vulgaris). On comparing this jaw with a skeleton of 

 the common squirrel, it is found to differ in some respects : the 

 molar teeth possess a different direction, being considerably 

 more elevated in the anterior part, while the foremost of them 

 are much smaller, differently formed, and turned more outwards ; 

 the incisors also are of a much larger size. The proportions of 

 the hollow bones and dorsal vertebrae are likewise considerably 

 greater ; and hence it is highly probable that we here possess a 

 different species of the ancient world. 



5. The greater part of the skull, with fragments of the sca- 

 pulae and cervical vertebrae, of a kind of mouse, which seems 

 referable to the mus terreslris. These bones perfectly corres- 

 pond with the delineations given by Cuvier of those which occur 

 so abundantly in the osseous breccias on the coast of Corsica, 

 torn. iv. Breches Oss. pi. 2, fig. 7. The skull of the specimen 

 before us is deeply penetrated with gypsum, and, in some places, 

 studded with crystals of that substance. 



6. A number of bones of small quadrupeds, among which are 

 some very remarkable jaw bones and teeth, which, though pre- 

 senting some resemblance to those of the bat (sorex vespertilio) 

 ;mil ??w/e(talpa), are yet for the greater part essentially different. 

 Some of these bones agree perfectly with those met with in the 



