NA TURE 



[January 30, 1902 



sufficiently thick in some places to more or less completely 

 obliterate the figures. In some figures the incisions have 

 been reinforced by black pigment, which occasionally 

 replaces the cuts. Sometimes, more especially about the 

 head of certain animals, the surface of the rock is scraped 

 away around the contour of the figure so as to throw it 

 into a slight relief. 



The style of the engravings is in complete accord with 

 those etchings on bone and antler which occur in the 

 Magdalenian stations, and their character proves that 



Fig. I. — Running Reindeer, Cave of Combarelles. 



they were drawn by artists who were perfectly familiar 

 with the living animals. As in the earlier finds, the 

 animals may be represented separately, or intermingled, 

 or in definite groups. 



Among the forty representatives of horse-like animals, 

 at least two distinct types are recognisable. One has a 

 massive head with a conve.v nose, the mane is short and stiff 

 or long and flowing, and the tail is similar to that of our own 

 horses. Some of these horses were domesticated ; several 

 very clearly show a halter and others a cord round the 



-'■'^X\ 



th, Cave ofComljarelles, 



muzzle ; a covering of some sort appears to be thrown 

 over the back of two of the horses. This new evidence, 

 in addition to the several representations of haltered 

 horses from the cave of Mas d'Azil, seems to prove 

 beyond question that the horse was domesticated at this 

 early period. Certain Equid;i; are represented of a more 

 elegant shape, with a small head, slender legs, short and 

 always erect mane, and with a tail that arises low down 

 and is bare save for a terminal tuft of long hair. 

 The representations of the Bovidx are less frequent. 



NO. 1683, VOL. 65] 



Three appear to represent bisons ; one is not unlike the 

 domestic cattle of to-day ; a third, with erect mane, 

 slightly incurved horns and a dew'ap provided with long 

 and abundant hair, recalls certain .African antelopes. 

 Two heads may be attributed to the saiga antelope, and 

 one large head suggests that of an eland, but it is u ithout 

 horns. There are only two entire figures of reindeer ; 

 the one which is represented as runnmg is here repro- 

 duced. The artists have clearly indicated the differences 

 between the reindeer and the wild deer of Europe, of 

 which there are three examples. 



The drawings of the mammoth are of interest second 

 only to that of the horses. Of the fourteen examples, 

 some are represented as entirely covered w-ith hair and 

 look like flufiy balls ; others have less hair, but are provided 

 with a fleece on the under side of the body, on the head 

 and occasionally around the mouth, as shown in our 

 illustration. The trunk, the tusks, which are always 

 strongly recurved, and the great characteristic feet are 

 very distinctly drawn ; only in two figures are indicated 

 the details of the form of the ears. 



The only approach to a representation of a human 

 face is a kind of irregular circle with an indication of two 

 eyes and some marks for the nose and mouth. Among 

 other simple signs were three roof like fairly compli- 

 cated designs, a double-contoured lozenge in the middle 

 of the body ot a horse, several M-like marks, semicircles, 

 &c., which may be related to the script-like paintings 

 found in the Mas d'Azil cave, and, finally, a group of 

 very distinct small cups. 



\s only a preliminary paper has been published by the 

 French savants, we are unable to give any further par- 

 ticulars of this most interesting and important find. The 

 publication of all the particulars will be eagerly awaited 

 by arch;cologists, as doubtless fresh light will be thrown 

 upon these very remarkable troglodyte artists, who 



" Pictured the mountainous mammoth, hairy, abhorrent, 

 alone — 

 Out of the love that he bore them, scribing them clearly on 

 bone." 



A. C. H. 



THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON. 



THE Drapers' Company has come forward with a 

 generous offer in order to secure the incorporation 

 of University College with the University of London. 

 The offer is contained in the following resolution, which 

 was brought before the .Senate of the University on 

 January 22:— "That the Drapers' Company, believing 

 that it is for the good of the higher education in London 

 that University College should be incorporated in the 

 University of London, and that for this purpose it is de- 

 sirable to place the site, land, buildings and endowments 

 of the college at the complete disposal of the University, 

 are willing to facilitate this object by making themselves 

 responsible for the debt on University College to the 

 extent of 30,000/., provided that the Senate of the Uni- 

 versity and the corporation of University College can, 

 before February 28, 1903, agree upon a scheme for the 

 incorporation of the college in the University, and such 

 scheme be approved by the company." 



At first sight it seems difi'icult to imagine how such an 

 incorporation can be effected. Committees appointed by 

 the University and University College will consider the 

 matter, and it is to be hoped that the bearings ol the pro- 

 posal will soon be published. An additional inducement 

 for the realisation of this scheme lies in the announce- 

 ment made by Sir Michael Foster that a gentleman is 

 prepared to give to University College 1000/. a year, re- 

 deemable either by himself or his executors by payment 



