THE ROCK FIGURES OF THE MARITIME ALPS. 
115 
and meadow-like part of the valley, where Monte Bego comes 
into view. Further on we again began to ascend, finding many 
interesting plants by the way, and at length reached a beautiful 
little lake — the Lago Verde — in the midst of larches and huge' 
masses of rock. Soon after passing the lake we came to rocky 
slopes almost entirely devoid of trees or bushes, which extend 
towards Monte Bego, and here the rocks are everywhere more 
or less covered with engravings. One of the first pointed out 
to us was a circle on a corroded rock, so faint as to be scarcely 
distinguishable, but more easily seen when the sun's rays strike 
the rock obliquely. Proceeding on our way we saw figures of 
oxen, some with very long horns, men with oxen and ploughs, 
implements and geometrical figures. 
After a lunch under one of the few pine trees which are found 
beyond the Lago Verde, we left Mr. Bicknell at work on the 
rocks, and were guided by Luigi Pollini to the " Napoleon Rock," 
which lies at some distance from the lake at an altitude of about 
8000 feet. To reach this we had a stiff but quite easy climb over 
steep, broken, rocky ground to a scree, where we saw for the 
first time large tufts of the beautiful Viola nummularifolia, and 
then, after a little more climbing, arrived at our destination. 
The rock derives its name from a drawing of Napoleon III. on 
horseback, with dogs, and women offering flowers to soldiers. 
Underneath is written " Ti Napoleon torna i la tua Francia e 
lasia il Piemonte, Guiseppe Lanterio di Tenda, 1849," and 44 li 
30 Agosto 1849 Anno della Republica e di liberta." Although 
this is only scratched in fine lines on the rock, it is, after more 
than sixty years, quite distinct and legible. On the same rock 
there is an excellent figure of a man and two oxen with a plough, 
and of this, with one or two smaller figures, we took rubbings. 
There is also a curious figure, probably a plan, resembling PI. I. 
fig. 2, which accompanies this paper, but different in shape. 
Leaving this extremely interesting rock we continued our climb 
to the top of the ridge, where there is more vegetation than on 
the rocky slopes, and here there were several good plants which 
we were glad to gather. We then descended by another route, 
very precipitous, but the rocks being broken up into natural steps 
and terraces there was no difficulty in following our excellent 
guide, and in reaching the comparatively level ground of the 
valley, and at length the Casa Fontanalba. Thus ended an ever 
to be remembered excursion, memorable alike for grand scenery, 
the glimpse into prehistoric times, and the rare plants which we 
collected. 
On the accompanying plates I give a few examples of the 
different types of figures, copied from Mr. Bicknell's book. 
PI. I. f. 4 shews an ox with horns, ears, and tail, but without 
legs. The reason that the animals were almost always drawn in 
this way is probably that they were represented as seen from the 
steep hill-side, when they were at work or feeding in the valleys 
below. From this point of view little of the legs would be seen. 
PI. I. f. 8 is a good figure of a man driving two oxen with a 
