LATER REMAINS IN NORTH BRITAIN. 55 



think, conclusive ; but perhaps the time he names may 

 be extended further. 



I do not see any evidence to prove that the Bos 

 urus ceased to exist in Scotland even at the later period 

 which Dr. Smith has assigned for its extinction. It is, 

 I suggest, much more probable that it continued to live 

 many centuries later, in the shape of those noble wild 

 bulls and cows on which Scotland so much prided 

 herself, and to whose extended range and remote anti- 

 quity of origin the oldest traditions of many distant 

 places and the statements of many old and authentic 

 writers bear the strongest testimony. So far as they 

 go, however, these opinions are much in favour of my 

 argument ; and if true, they altogether neutralise the 

 opinions of some English geologists, who, judging as I 

 think somewhat too exclusively from the remains found 

 in the refuse-heaps, caves, and river gravels of Southern 

 and Central Britain, have come to the conclusion that 

 the Bos urus became extinct throughout the whole 

 island in pre-historic times. There seems to be much 

 probability, though it can scarcely be considered abso- 

 lutely proved, that such was the case in the southern 

 parts of Britain ; but I think it has yet to be shown 

 that in the northern parts the same rule prevailed : 

 especially as I believe that the Caledonian deposits 

 more particularly — partly, perhaps, from their remote 

 positions — have in but few instances been examined 

 with that consummate skill, care, and attention which 

 southern discoveries have received. Some local anti- 

 quary — in many cases one imperfectly acquainted with 

 the subject — often tells us all we know about the former, 

 while crowds of able and scientific men investigate the 

 latter. 



