SPIRIT OF GOOD BOOKS. 



361 



" Occasionally they are of 

 larger size, and have been 

 chipped into shape at the point, 

 so as nearly to resemble the 

 implements of the next class. 



" An argument may be de- 

 rived in favour of the majority 

 of these arrow-head-shaped flakes 

 having been designedly made, 

 not only from their similarity in 

 form one to another, but also 

 because the existence of more 

 carefully fashioned flint imple- 

 ments almost necessarily implies 

 the formation and use of these 

 simpler weapons by the same 

 race of men who were skilful 

 enough to chip out the more 

 difficult forms. But though pro- 

 bably the work of man, and 

 though closely resembling the 

 flakes of flint which have been 

 considered as affording evidence 

 of man's existence when found 

 in ossiferous caverns, this class 

 of implements is not of much 

 importance in the present branch 

 of our inquiry ; because, grant- 

 ing them to be of human work, 

 and not the result of accident, 

 there is little by which to dis- 

 tinguish them from similar im- 

 plements of more recent date. 



"The case is different with 

 the implements of the second 

 class, those analogous in form 

 to spear- or lance-heads. Of 

 these there are two varieties, the 

 one with a rounded cutting point, 

 its general outline presenting a 

 sort of parabolic curve (PI. 1, 

 No. 1) ; the other acutely 

 pointed, with the sides curved 

 slightly inwards (PL 1, No. 2). 

 These have received from the workmen of St. Acheul the name of 

 Ungues de chat, from their fancied resemblance in form to a cat's 

 tongue. The sides of both kinds are brought to an edge by chipping, 

 but are not so sharp as the point, and altogether these weapons seem better 

 adapted for piercing than for cutting. In length they vary from about four 

 inches to eight or even nine inches. Both shapes are generally more convex on 

 one side than the other, the convexity in some cases almost amounting to a 

 ridge ; they are usually truncated at ' the base, and not unfrequently at that 

 end show a portion of the original surface of the flint ; in some specimens the 

 butt-end is left very thick, as if to add impetus to any blow given with the 

 implement. The remarkable feature about them is, their being adapted only 

 vol. iv. 2k 



Flint from Menchecourt, Abbeville (full size). 



