216 
rOEEIGN INTELLIGEXCE. 
The Alheville Human Jaw. 
When we noticed last month the discovery of a human jaw at Moulin- 
Quignon, we did so with the utmost caution. We knew perfectly well 
how long and how keenly M. Boucher de Perthes had sought for human 
relics in the gravels around Abbeville, and we could scarcely believe that 
the indefatigable collector, who for thirty years had resided on the spot, 
could not know the difference between a spurious and a real fossil. On 
the other hand, we had the letter of Ur. Falconer to the ' Times ' before 
us, and Messrs. Prestwich and Evans, after a journey of inspection and ex- 
amination, had returned disclaiming the discovery. We seemed thus com- 
pelled by adverse testimony to repudiate the discovery ; but still we were 
not satisfied with the premises upon which the adverse conclusions had 
been founded, neither, on the other hand, could we advocate the genuineness 
of either the jaw or the flint-implements, for there were circumstances 
connected with both that made us hesitate. The flint-implements, although 
of the usual size, nameh^ six or eight inches long, were not left as usual 
in their natural state and unworked at the broad end, but were clipped all 
round ; and the strong point urged by Dr. Falconer, of the presence of ge- 
latinous matter inside the solitary molar, which was supposed to have 
fallen from the jaw, was, though not conclusive against the fossil, still a 
barrier against an advocacy of the genuineness of that specimen, and, by in- 
ference, of the jaw. Since then, M. Quatrefages has made his report to 
tlie Paris Academy of Sciences, and has unequivocally declared in its 
favour. M. Quatrefages' first communication was made to the Academy 
on the 27th of April, and the following notice of it was given in the ' Insti- 
tut;'— 
" M. de Quatrefages brought then before the Academy a very interest- 
ing palseoutological fact — the discovery of a lower human jaw, in the same 
diluvial sands at the base of which have been found during some years nume- 
rous worked flints, thanks to the incessant researches continued with such 
indefatigable zeal by M. Boucher de Perthes. M. Quatrefages sub- 
mitted for the inspection of the Academy the jaw itself, surrounded still 
with a part of the matrix which enclosed it. It was at Moulin-Quignon, 
near Abbeville, that the discovery was made in the deposit already many 
times quoted in the publications of M. Boucher de Perthes, and of which 
the natural or undisturbed state is universally admitted by geologists, both 
French and foreign, who have visited the locality. M. de Quatrefages 
had been informed of the discovery, and M. Boucher de Perthes had 
requested him to communicate it to the Academy, but he would not do 
this until he had seen it with his own eyes. He went to Abbeville as soon 
as possible, and met there Dr. Falconer, with whom he proceeded to make 
a first examination of the human jaw. The two naturalists then visited 
the localities and proceeded to make a sort of inquiry. Dr. Falconer had 
already been to the quarry of Moulin-Quignon. M. de Quatrefages now 
descended into it in his turn, and clearing away the soil himself to make cer- 
tain of getting at earth not attacked by the workmen, he struck into 
it with a pick. Soon he perceived amongst the detached gravel-stones a 
first hache and almost immediately a second. He would have continued 
his search but that the excavation was already so deep that a slip or fall- 
ing-in was dreaded ; it was prudent to stop. The next day Mr. Brady 
found in the same place a fourth implement. 
M. de Perthes wishing to confide to M. de Quatrefages the precious 
