Tie mediterranean naturalist. 
a fiDontbl^ journal of IRatural Science. 
Yol. II, No. 14. 
MALTA, JULY 1st. 1892. 
{ 
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CO IN TENTS. 
— — Pag. 
1 The recent discovery of skeletons in the caves at 
Mentone— G. H. Bryan, M.A. 203 
2 The Phosphate Beds of the Maltese Islands and 
their possibilities— J. H. Cooke. 205 
3 Changing Climate. 210 
4 The Hope of France. 210 
5 Prehistoric Man in Italy. 210 
6 The Fathomed Depths of Ocean. 211 
7 The Relationship of the structure of Rocks to the 
Conditions of their formations— H. J. Johnston 
Lavis, M.D, F.G.S, etc. . 211 
8 The Great African Cataract. 213 
9 The Tunny Fishery in Sicily and Sardinia. 214 
10 The Vine disease in Sicily — H. Twelves. 215 
11 Notes and iVeit’s.-— Vesuvius'active— Sunflower oil — 
Our Globe— A remarkable custom— Flora of 
Elba— Habits of Hermit Crabs- Vine disease in 
Sicily and Greece— Flora of the Mediterranean- 
Prehistoric Man — Ants and Agriculture— A Me- 
dii rranean Survey — Monkey Language - The 
Mosquito, etc. etc. 216 
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14 
The recent discovery of skeletons in the 
caves at Mentone. 
By G. H. Bryan. 
Much interest always attaches to discoveries 
of the remains of prehistoric man, and when 
it was learnt that, shortly after February 7th, 
three entire human skeletons had been found 
interred in the Bone Caves of the Pied Rocks 
near Mentone, the news caused considerable 
excitement among the residents wintering on 
the Riviera, and afforded food for much specula- 
tive discussion in scentific circles. 
As it was my good fortune during a recent visit 
to the northern shores of the Mediterranean to 
see these skeletons in situ and the various objects 
found at the same time, I have thought that a 
short account of them may be of interest. 
The Baousse Rousse (of Mentonasque dialect), 
Rochers Rouges, or Red Rocks are situated at 
the eastern end of the East Bay of Mentone just 
on the Italian side of the frontier. They form a 
fine projecting cliff of jurassic limestone at the 
foot of a range of higher hills, and the presence 
of iron, coupled with the action of the weather, 
have coloured this rock like many other rocks 
near Mentone a beautiful orange red. It is thus 
one of the most striking features of the East 
Bay, and at its base are the caves which have 
afforded shelter for countless Avild animals and 
generations of prehistoric man. According to M. 
Riviere of Paris the number of these caves is five, 
but M. Bonfils the enthusiastic founder and 
curator of the Museum at Mentone maintains ivitli 
a great show of reason that only four of these 
are genuine caves, and he therefore adopts a dif- 
ferent system of numbering the caves. Hence it 
arises that the cave in which the new skeletons 
have been found is the fifth according to M. 
Riviere apd the fourth according to M. Bonfils- 
