Quadrupeds. 1629 



relative to the thickness of the frontal ridge in the skull of the male gigantic deer. 

 Mr. Owen stated this portion of the frontal bone to he four inches in thickness, and I, 

 not conceiving it likely that he would err in so palpable a matter, adopted his assertion 

 and admitted that portion of the frontals to be some inches in thickness. Sub- 

 sequently, however, I had sections of the skull made, and the result was that I found 

 the thickness to be only apparent; the portion of ridge, between the peduncles, being 

 only one inch and one-eighth of an inch thick ; the interior of the skull-cavity follow- 

 ing the course of the external protuberance. I am glad that I made these sections, 

 (for permission to do which, I have also to return thanks to the proprietor of the skull 

 so cut, Mr. Glennon), for I conceive that this furnishes an additional fact to aid in 

 showing the impossibility of these skulls found fractured at Loch Gur having been 

 those of males, and consequently is striking another blow at the foundation of Profes- 

 sor Owen's theory. 



I have the honor to be, Sir, 

 Your's, &c. 



H. D. Richardson. 



[I am quite content to leave to Mr. Richardson the task of defending 

 the so-called female skulls scientifically and philosophically: I am too 

 well acquainted with Professor Owen's knowledge of comparative 

 anatomy to enter into a contest in which I must appear in the wrong. 

 Nevertheless, having advanced an opinion, which I have no reason to 

 rescind ; and seeing, moreover, that Professor Owen treats the matter 

 with that winning pleasantry which is so natural to him while de- 

 fending any hypothesis he may have been pleased to broach ; I 

 believe it consistent with my editorial capacity to continue a discus- 

 sion that seems so agreeable to all the parties concerned. Let us for 

 the present regard the question of sex as a moot point open for the 

 consideration of the learned, and consider the question of fracture 

 independently of sex. But first a word on the general question of 

 antiquity. Professor Owen must be acquainted with Mr. Wilde's 

 paper, published in the first volume of the Royal Irish Academy's Re- 

 port, and recording the discovery of a vast quantity of skulls and other 

 bones, principally of horned cattle, deer, goats and swine, near the 

 village of Dunshaughlin. The skulls presented the marks of frontal 

 fracture already described, and in one of them was actually found the 

 head of the instrument with which the fracture was supposed to have 

 been made. Now no doubt has yet been raised as to the cause of 

 the death of these animals : it is universally attributed to the frontal 

 fracture, and again, that frontal fracture is attributed to the hand of 

 man. Should any one incline to contest this, and contend for their 

 pre-adamite existence, let him read Mr. Wilde's account of the recep- 

 tacle in which they were deposited : — 



" About a mile to the east of the village of Dunshaughlin, on the 

 v K 



