90 Procetdings of the Royal Physiccd Society. 



who imported domestic horses, along with the other domestic 

 animals, from eastern regions. But these questions fall more 

 naturally to be discussed in the next section, which deals 

 with horses in Neolithic times. 



Horses of the Neolithic Period in Europe. 



In following the footsteps of the horse through the 

 Neolithic period in Europe, we have to deal with a re- 

 markable transformation, not only as regards the cliniate, 

 flora, and fauna of the country, but in the modus vivendi of 

 man himself. It is difficult to account for the precise 

 cosmical conditions which in Quaternary times led to the 

 intermingling, on the same geographical area, of such different 

 animals as the mammoth, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, Irish 

 elk, cave-bear, hyaena, reindeer, horse, etc. But whatever 

 may have been the explanation, whether interglacial genial 

 periods, or great extremes of temperature in the summers 

 and winters, it is certain that subsequent climatal altera- 

 tions taxed the life-capacity of these strangely assorted 

 animals to a degree which ultimately became unbearable. 

 As the Glacial period passed away the climate became 

 ameliorated and more humid, a change indicated by the 

 prevalence of fruit trees, cereals, and herbaceous growths. 

 Coincident with these physical changes in Britain and 

 Central Europe, there was a general dispersal of the char- 

 acteristic fauna of the Pakeolithic period. Some betook 

 themselves to more congenial climates, according as they 

 inherited northern or southern proclivities, while a third 

 group disappeared altogether off the stage of life. Nor were 

 the consequent changes in the ways and means of human 

 economy less radical. We have just had one or two glimpses 

 of the old troglodyte-hunters of France, armed with weapons 

 of stone and horn with which they hunted the reindeer, 

 horse, and other wild animals. They manufactured fine 

 needles of bone, with which they sewed their skin garments. 

 They were fond of ornament, and adorned their persons with 

 a variety of beads and pendants made of teeth and coloured 

 pebbles. They were skilful artists, and they have left 



