421 
of the aperture, and remained there for a while. Again, I 
cannot conceive it possible for any animal to seize the rib of 
the Deer and make a horizontal perforation during the life- 
time of the latter, as the rotundity of its body would render 
such an attack impracticable ; while, on the other hand, after 
death, and when the parietes of the abdomen had been torn 
open, and its intestines protruding, the edges of the ribs 
could be readily seized between the teeth. 
I have already stated that the bones of the Giant Deer 
are frequently discovered in the mounds of earth, called 
Raths or Danish forts, in Ireland ; and I believe it is almost 
exclusively in such localities that they are associated with 
the implements of the former occupants of the soil ; hence, 
it is presumed they were slaughtered by the latter, more 
especially, as the other bones found with them are all of 
animals used as food by man. 
One of these mounds was opened by Hugh Palliser, Esq., 
at Castle Warden, in the county of Kildare ; in which 
were found — a great variety of cooking implements, hatchets, 
knives, strange looking culinary utensils, charcoal ashes, 
large stones half roasted, together with quantities of spear 
and arrow heads, of combs, and bronze, iron, and bone 
skewers for holding the mantle ; besides these were quantities 
of bones, from whence Mr. Palliser inferred that these raths 
were baking hearths, used to dry a supply of food for the 
consumption of the conquering invader, or the numerous 
retainers of the feudal chieftains ; and when they had done 
with the bones they were thrown into natural or artificial 
valleys near the spot, to prevent their tainting the air. If they 
had come there by accident, why should we so frequently find 
heads by themselves, and the tynes of the horns invariably 
placed downwards? but we can readily imagine the reason 
when we admit of human agency.* 
* Richardson, p. 30. 
I i 2 
