DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PLATES SKULLS AND BONES. [C. VII. VIII.] 169 



C. SKULLS AND BONES. 



C. PLATE VII. & VIII. (Double.) 



In illustration of the habits and customs of the Cave-folk, with respect to their 

 capture and slaughter of Reindeer at perhaps all seasons of the year and in great 

 abundance *, the late M. Lartet arranged in this Plate a series of Reindeer 

 Antlers, in various conditions, of different ages, and in several stages of growth. 

 Two only are perfect (figs. 1 and 2); and only one (fig. 8) has been naturally shed, 

 the others having been broken off from the skulls of slaughtered Deer of various 

 ages. One specimen (fig. 10) bears marks of cutting and sawing t, such as are 

 very common among' the imperfect horns found in the Caverns which have been 

 occupied by the Elint-folk of Perigord. 



N. Laurence Austen, Esq., E.L.S., E.Z.S., of Croydon, well acquainted with 

 the Reindeer of Norway and Lapland J, has favoured us with some systematic 

 remarks on the Natural History of the Reindeer; and the description of this 

 Plate has been drawn up with his kind assistance. 



Eig. 1. This was the horn of a very young Reindeer, probably a male, judging 

 from the thickness of the beam, and about two or three weeks old. In Norway 

 the Reindeer-fawns in August have antlers from 5 to 9 inches in length, vary- 

 ing according to sex ; and by November, when they lose the velvet, the horns 

 measure from 12 to 15 inches. 

 Erom La Madelaine. 



Eig. 2. A fully matured, though small, antler of the first year's growth, probably 

 of a doe. 



Erom La Madelaine. 



Fig. 3. Imperfect horn of a young male, full first year's growth. 

 Erom La Madelaine. 



See ' Roliq. Aquit.' p. 147. t Lartet et Christy, " Cavernes du Perigord," 1864, p. 27. 



i See " The Wild Keindeer of Norway (Tarandus rangifer)," by Mr. N. L. Austen, in ' Land and Water,' 

 January and February, 1871. 



