230 RELIQUIAE AQUITANICS. 



10. THE VULTURE. Vultur monachtts, Linn. ? Le Vautour. 



I have been able to recognize the bones of the Vulture in several ossiferous 

 caves : at La Madelaine, upon the banks of the Vzere, 3 imperfect ulnas ; at 

 Lacombe-Tayac, 1 metacarpal ; at the Gorge d'Enfer (Dordogne) and at Gourdan, 

 1 ulna. Other wing-bones of very large size come from Aurignac. From the 

 condition of these bones it seems that the inhabitants of the Caves carefully 

 sought after them, their dimensions being considerable, and their remarkable 

 pneumatic state permitting them to be easily converted into pipes. Indeed the 

 ulnas are generally broken so as to separate the articular extremities ; and on 

 several of them we observe outlines or regular lines. On one of these bones, found 

 at La Madelaine, is seen the figure of an animal destitute of horns, the form of 

 the head of which recalls that of the Horse. The hind quarters of the animal are 

 wanting, the bone being broken in front of the hind legs. On the opposite surface 

 there is a straight and deep furrow extending the whole length of the bone. On 

 another ulna, of which I have only the upper portion, it seems that the artist in- 

 tended to engrave an arrow-head or a barbed lance-head similar to those found in 

 the same beds, some of which have been figured in this work * ; on the other side 

 are a great number of lines of more or less depth, the signification of which it is 

 difficult to guess. On a third ulna, also from La Madelaine, there are numerous 

 furrows produced by means of an extremely sharp flint ; these are short, crowded, 

 and all arranged on the inner surface and following the length of the bone ; those 

 nearest the carpal extremity are larger and deeper than the others. This bone 

 bears also the marks of the teeth of Rodents. 



All these bones seem, by their size and strength, to belong to Vultur monachm 

 rather than to V.fulvus ; nevertheless, in order to fully establish their determina- 

 tion, it would be useful to examine more perfect specimens than those which I have 

 had at my disposal. 



ACCIPITRES NOCTUENI. 



11. THE EAGLE OWL. Stria: bubo, Linne" ; Bubo maximus, Plem. Le Grand-due. 

 This species, already noticed in the Departement de 1' Aude by Marcel de Serres, 



and in the Cave at Verezzi, has also been found in the Cave at Gourdan. 



12. THE SHORT-EARED OWL. Strix brachyotiis, Linne ; Otus brachyotus, Boie. 



Le Hibou brachyote. 

 It is only in the Shelter of Bruniquel that a bone (a tars - metatarsal) of this 



Bird has been found. 



* See B. Plate XIV. figs. 3 & 6. 





