156 SCARCITY OF HUMAN BONES. 



Wheat. 



Hordeum distichum. 

 hexastichum. 



Trapa natans. This species was supposed to be extinct 

 in Switzerland,, but it has recently been discovered 

 in a living condition. It is, however, very locaL 



Flax. 



Juncus- 



Arundo.. 



Nymphsea alba, 



Nuphar luteum.. 



pumilum. 



Neither hemp, oats, nor rye have yet been found. Small 

 pieces of twine and bits of matting made of flax may have 

 been part of some article of clothing. For this purpose 

 also there can be little doubt that the skins of animals 

 were used, and some of the stone implements seem well 

 adapted to assist in their preparation, while the bone pins, 

 and the needles made from the teeth of boars, may have 

 served to fasten them together. 



To what race of men these interesting remains are ascrib- 

 able, we have as yet no direct evidence. Human bones are 

 very rare in the Pileworks, and may probably be referred to 

 accidents, especially as we find that those of children are 

 most numerous. M. Desor, indeed, states that not a single 

 human skeleton has yet been found in any of the stations 

 belonging to the Stone age, and Dr. Keller, in his fifth re- 

 port, informs us that all the Lake-villages taken together 

 have not yet produced more than half a dozen. One mature 

 skull from Meilen has been described by Professor His, who 

 considers that it does not differ much from the ordinary 

 Swiss type. While his work was in the press, Prof. Riitimeyer 

 received from Col. Schwab four more skulls, two of which 

 were obtained at Nidau, one at Sutz, and one at Biel. 



