BIRD-BONES FOUND IN THE CAVES. 239 



striae, or notches similar to those produced by the flint implements made use of by 

 the men of that period to detach the flesh of the animals. The palaeontologists 

 who have explored the Cave-deposits, whether in France or the neighbouring 

 countries, have not recognized the existence of this species, and have confounded 

 it with the Partridge. It is true that in its dimensions it does not differ much 

 from that bird; but the two species cannot be confounded if their osteological 

 characters be studied. 



The Willow-Grouse does not now inhabit the temperate parts of Europe; it is 

 banished to the north, into Norway, Sweden, Lapland, and North America. It lives 

 in the humid plains that are clad with clumps of Birch trees ; but it does not 

 appear to frequent forests, and it does not ascend the mountains above the limit of 

 the birch-growth. It is often met with in large flocks, and is one of the com- 

 monest birds in the northern regions. Its geological and geographical distribution 

 is the same as that of the Great Snowy Owl, which often feeds upon it. 



There exist in Europe other species of the same genus which much resemble 

 Lagopus albus. According to Prof. A. Newton*, of the latter the following sub- 

 species are to be distinguished : 



(1) Lagopus scoticus, which is perhaps only an insular race of L. albus. 



(2) Lagopus mutus vel alpinus, which is found also in the French Caves. 



(3) Lagopus rupestris, which does not apparently differ from L. islandorum 



or from the L. Heinhardti of Greenland. 



(4) Lagopus hemileucurus, inhabiting Spitzbergen and more nearly allied to 



L. mutus than to L. rupestris. 



The plumage of all these birds presents a certain uniformity of tints ; but the 

 dimensions of the various pieces of the skeleton are not the same, and render their 

 determination possible. 



The number of remains of Lagopus albus which have been found in the Cave 

 of Les Eyzies is very considerable; and it has been possible to reconstruct an 

 almost entire skeleton of one of these birds. 



At La Madelaine also these Lagopodes are very plentiful ; but they are very 

 rare at the Gorge d'Enfer,-and at Massat. They are common at Bruniquel. At 

 Aurignac their existence is only indicated by one tarso-metatarsal. In the Lherm 

 Cave they are numerous. Lastly, their remains have been found at Aure, Lourdes, 

 and Gourdan. 



* " On certain Species of Falconidae, Tetraonidse, and Anatidee," Proceedings of the Academy of Natural 

 Sciences of Philadelphia, 1871, p. 94. 



