BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCH. xlvii 



men of science in the case.^ Although, 'loath in the last de- 

 gree to leave England, having so much unfinished work on 

 hand,' his health compelled him to seek a warmer climate for 

 the winter. He followed up, however, the same object by 

 proceeding to Sicily to examine the ossiferous caves of that 

 island, and he there discovered the ' Grotta di Maccagnone,' 

 in which flint-implements of great antiquity were found ad- 

 hering to the roof-matrix, mingled with remains of hysenas 

 now extinct in Europe. An account of this important cave 

 was communicated to the Geological Society.'^ Having ex- 

 amined the collection of M. Boucher de Perthes, on his route 

 to Sicily, he was impressed vrith the authenticity of some of 

 the flint-implements discovered in the Valley of the Somme, 

 and he urged his friend Mr. Prestwich, than whom there is no 

 higher authority in this branch of Geology, to proceed there 

 and investigate the conditions of the case. This led to Mr. 

 Prestwich's celebrated memoir on the flint-yielding Quater- 

 nary deposits of the Somme. Thus, in 1859, the subject of 

 the antiquity of the human race, which had previously been 

 generally discredited by men of science, was launched upon 

 fresh evidence. Since then it has been actively followed up 

 by numerous inquirers, and Dr. Falconer himself was con- 

 templating, and had indeed actually commenced, a work ' On 

 Primeval Man.'^ Pn 1863 he took an active share in the 

 singularly perplexed discussion concerning the human jaw 

 of Moulin-Quignon ; and in the Conference of English 

 and French men of science held in France he expressed 

 doubts as to the authenticity of the specimen, but in that 

 guarded and cautious manner which was characteristic of 

 him. Dr. Falconer's honesty of purpose and love of truth 

 were weU exemplified in this controversy. Before proceeding 

 to the Conference he had publicly expressed an opinion un- 

 favourable to the authenticity of the jaw. The results of the 

 first few days of the Conference seemed to be in his favour, 

 and he wrote thus to London : ' I have every confidence from 

 the present aspect of the matter that we shall establish our 

 case. But I am open to conviction, and will give a true and 

 honest verdict to the best of my convictions.' At the close 

 of the Conference, he wrote again iia these words : ' In the 



' See vol. ii. p. 491. 

 ' lb. p. 543. 



lb. p. 570. 



