8o 



SCIENCE FROM AN EASY CHAIR 



mammoth itself, carved on a piece of its own ivory, is 

 among them, and a good many represent the horse 

 (Fig. 8). Now it is a fact that the carvings of the horses 

 of that period undoubtedly represent a horse which is 

 identical in proportions, shape of head, mane, and tail, 

 with the wild Mongolian horse, and is 

 unlike in those points to modern Euro- 

 pean horses, or to the Arabian horse. 



It was, until the discoveries of M. 

 Piette, held that though the cave-men 

 killed, ate, and made pictures of the 



FIG. 7. Drawing 

 (of the actual size 

 of the original) or 

 an ivory carving 

 (fully rounded) of 

 a female head. 

 The specimen was 

 found in the 

 cavern of Bras- 

 sempouy, in the 

 Landes. It is of 

 the earliest rein- 

 deer period, and 

 the arrangement 

 of the hair or cap 

 is remarkable. 



FIG. 8. Drawing (of the actual size of the 

 original) of a fully rounded carving in rein- 

 deer's antler of the head of a neighing horse. 

 The head resembles that of the Mongolian 

 horse. This is one of the most artistic of the 

 cave-men's carvings yet discovered. It is of 

 the Palaeolithic age (early reindeer period), 

 probably not less than fifty thousand years 

 old. It was found in the cavern of Mas d'Azil, 

 Ariege, France, and is now in the museum of 

 St. Germain. 



horse of those remote days, yet that they did not tame 

 it, put a halter or a bridle on it, and make use of 

 it. Some of the carvings figured by M. Piette leave, 

 however, no room for doubt that the cave-men fitted a 

 bridle to the head and muzzle of the horse. These carvings 

 (Fig. 9) show a twisted thong placed round the nose and 

 passing near the angle of the mouth where it is possible, 



