ANCESTRAL DESCENT. 15 



(see figs. 13, 14, 15). The humerus of a supposed 

 Wild Cat found in Gower Cave, St. Asaph, measures 

 84 mm. in length, while that of the Wild Cat of 

 later days measures 109 mm. (compare figs. 5 & 6, 

 p. 8, with figs. 20 & 28, pp. 63 & 67). 



Osseous remains of Wild Cats of a much later 

 period than those mentioned above have been found 

 in the peat- deposits and elsewhere mixed with the 

 bones of extinct forms of Deer, Ox, and other animals. 



M. Laktet (" On Human Remains," Ann. des Sci. 

 Nat.) (Natural History Review, 1862) states that 

 the osseous remains of a Cat supposed to be Felis 

 catus have been found in the human sepulchral cave 

 at Aurignac mixed with the bones of Felis spelcea, 

 Elephas priini genius, Ehhwceros tichorhinus, &c. This 

 sepulchral vault is considered by Lartet to be of the 

 highest antiquity, as indicated by the existence of 

 almost entire bones of the great Cave-Bear, which 

 appear to have been introduced into the cave by 

 the hand of Man. " Palseontographically," he says, 

 " the human race of Aurignac belongs to the remotest 

 antiquity to which, up to the present time, the exist- 

 ence of Man or the vestiges of his industry can be 

 traced. This race was evidently contemporary with 

 the Aurochs, Reindeer, Gigantic Elk, Rhinoceros, 

 Hysena, &c., and, what is more, with the great Cave- 

 Bear (Ursus spelceus), which would appear to have 

 been the earliest to disappear in the group of great 

 mammals generally regarded as characteristic of the 

 last geological period." 



