220 



THE GEOLOGIST. 



only of the inferior maxillary, in a state of preservation really extraordinary 

 according to the observations which have been made, and which we owe to 

 the good offices of M. de Qnatrefages. This jaw belonged to an aged man 

 of small size ; which would prove that the hnman race did not possess at 

 its origin those gigantic proportions which some hypotheses have assigned. 

 The angle of the exterior contour is more open (obtuse) than in modern 

 types ; but in examining two Esquimaux jaws, it was seen that in one this 

 angle was much more open still, and in the other much less. This is then 

 only a character belonging to the individual. A molar tooth, which remains 

 in place, appears also more inclined forwards than in ordinary cases ; but 

 this fact is explained by the absence of the neighbouring tooth, which had 

 been extracted or had fallen out during life ; for the process of ossification 

 had taken place, as it always does, in the alveolus. This then again is only 

 an entirely individual character. Other important observations which can 

 be repeated, or the photographic portrait itself, have given the like result. 



" The discovery of this fossil jaw has given rise to a veritable scientific 

 tourney between the French and English savan ts. If the victory has been 

 gained by the former, their adversaries have had the rare merit, in duels 

 of this kind, to acknowledge loyally and courteously their defeat. To give 

 an idea of the minuteness of the investigations to free the matter from any 

 doubt which might exist, we summarize some of the curious details which 

 have been kindly furnished by Messrs. de Qnatrefages and Milne-Edwards, 

 jun. 



" After having examined the jaw found by M. Boucher de Perthes, M. 

 de Qnatrefages went to Moulin- Quignon, where he made some cuttings to 

 study the earth. He caused the quarry to be cleared, and gave in front of 

 himself a blow of the pick in its wall (or face) at the height of the bed 

 where the discovery had been made. Stones were detached, and amongst 

 those which fell was found a flint haclie, like those of which we possess 

 already numerous specimens. On examining the wall in the gap which 

 had been thus made, M. de Qnatrefages saw then nearly entirety embedded 

 a second hache, which he detached himself. This, at least, could not have 

 been fraudulently introduced, and its presence was a guarantee for the 

 authenticity of the human debris found in the same place. Hence the 

 learned Professor made his first communication to the Academy of Sciences. 

 Dr. Falconer came to Paris, studied the implements and the jaw, and went 

 away convinced. However, after some days, and fresh observations, he 

 published in the ' Times ' the letter we have read,* and which expresses 

 more than a doubt. M. de Quatrefages took then the study he had made, 

 and replied by new and critical arguments to his confreres across the Chan- 

 nel. They decided then they would come to Paris, to undertake, in con- 

 cert with the persons that were named, investigations which M. Milne- 

 Edwards had spoken of in his communication to the Committee of Learned 

 Societies. 



" Three principal points formed the basis of the doubts of the English 

 Professors, — the nature of the gancjue which enveloped the jaw and the 

 implements, the freshness of the edges of the latter, and finally, the pre- 

 sence of a little sand in the alveolus where the dental artery passes. M. 

 Delesse declared it was impossible for any chemist to counterfeit exactly 

 the material of the c/angue. This, moreover, had penetrated into the al- 

 veolus, and had there deposited itself in a way it was not possible to imi- 

 tate. Five implements were found successively in the presence of the 

 parties conducting the inquiry, and they allf had the same characters as 



* Printed in our last number, p. 189. 



t With one exception, see p. 223. — Ed. Gf.ot.. 



