Notes on the Crania of the Bos primigenius. |115 



these large cattle. Unfortunately he considered these axes 

 as of very little consequence, from some supposed similarity 

 to the tools of coppersmiths, though what work coppersmiths 

 could have had to do in the wilds of Selkirkshire, so as to 

 have left their axes lying about in such numbers, it is not 

 very easy to understand. He apparently mistook the nature 

 of these weapons, which were in all likelihood the ordinary 

 bronze axe-heads or celts, now so well known as having been 

 the weapons and tools of the early races who inhabited the Bri- 

 tish Isles, and which have been found over the whole country, 

 as well as in the stone cists the tombs of the ancient people. 

 I exhibit various specimens of these bronze celts, palstaves, 

 and socketed celts, which, I doubt not, correspond to the 

 coppersmith's axes of the letter referred to. The accom- 

 panying woodcut shows various types of these axes. 



It has been stated, that bones of the Bos primigenius 

 have been found indented with the primitive stone javelin of 

 the aborigines of the north of Europe ; here we apparently 

 have them in close relation to the bronze weapons of a possibly 

 still later age, showing that these animals roamed in our forests 

 and marshes, and were hunted by the inhabitants of these 

 early times in at least our northern kingdom of Scotland. 

 Professor Owen says, " from the very recent character of the 

 osseous substances in the remains of these cattle, it may be 

 concluded that the Bos primigenius maintained its ground 



