IMPLEMENTS BEAE1NG SIGNIFICANT MARKS. 189 



7. Two fragments of small, subcylindrical, hollow Bird-bones, also from La 

 Madelaine, have vertical rows of transverse parallel notches, and probably served 

 as Tally-sticks : in one instance (fig. 6, B. Plate XXV.) there are two vertical 

 rows (in ones, twos, threes, and greater numbers, not far apart) on the two oppo- 

 site sides, where the surface of the bone is most prominent; and in the other 

 specimen there are four, less regular rows, occupying all the surface. The latter, 

 however, is possibly a mere roughening of the smooth bone to ensure tight lashing 

 (compare figs. 1 and 10 of B. Plate XIII.) ; but the former seems far too simple to 

 have been intended for that purpose. A piece of a solid stem of a Dart-head (?) 

 from the Gorge d'Enfer is also scored all over with small transverse marks with 

 an almost alternate arrangement, and hence probably intended for ornament. 



8. On the edge of a perforated and carved antler figured in B. Plates XV. & 

 XVI. (fig. 1, described at page 103) there is a scoring of upwards of thirty slight 

 but distinct transverse notches, in different groups, at varying distances. See also 

 Woodcut, fig. 20, page 103, and B. Plate XXV. fig. 1. 



This was the shed antler of a young Reindeer, or perhaps of a doe, judging 

 from the small size of the base. The stem or beam has been cut away laterally, 

 so as to present two flat faces, the convex edge of which still bears the bases of 

 three truncated branches at unequal distances. The stem appears to have lost 

 some of its length by an old fracture. The convex edge is marked with a scoring 

 of numerous (thirty-three) slight transverse notches some at equal distances 

 apart, some more widely separated, and a few in pairs. The two broad and flat sur- 

 faces are grooved with two chief lines from base to top ; and secondary groovings 

 follow the contours of the projecting stumps. Four holes, of unequal diameters, 

 are pierced in the wide portion, from the brow-antler to the third branch or " royal " 

 above. Four is the greatest number of holes we have yet met with in these imple- 

 ments (see also B. Plates III. & IV. fig. 5). The specimen under notice may pos- 

 sibly have been part of an apparatus for the suspension of several articles, either 

 on the person or in the dwelling ; and if there were a pair of such specimens fixed 

 in a wall, side by side, they would serve as a rack for arrows*. The scoring on 

 the edge, however, would rather point to this implement being of personal use as 

 an ornamental Tally-stick. 



North- American Indians and other savages notch sticks as Tallies, for scoring f 



* Besides the above-suggested purposes for these perforated horns, and the others mentioned at page 102, 

 we find that they have also been regarded as possibly fitted for bridle-harness and sledge-gear (' Geological 

 Magazine,' vol. vi. p. 278). In Hindoostan ropes of bark are twisted, with perforated sticks. 



t Thus the words a "score" of things, "scoring" a game, "scoring" an account, "scoring" music, 



2 B 



