532 
PROFESSOR OWEN’S DESCRIPTION OF THE CAVERN OF 
From the paucity of human remains as contrasted with those of the lower animals in 
the cavern, it may be inferred that interment therein was exceptional. It might be 
reserved for the family of the chief of the tribe. 
The specimens of ancient art figured in cuts 5 & 6 were detected by Vicomte de Lastic 
St. Jal on removing the breccia from those implements in 1863, and were shown by the 
Fig. 5. 
Portion of wing-bone of a bird with incised outlines of the head of Reindeer ( Cervus tarandus ) ; 
from the Cavern of Bruniquel. 
Fig. 6. 
Portion of rib of a Deer, with incised outlines of the heads of Reindeer and Bouquetin ; 
from the Cavern of Bruniquel. 
Vicomte to me on my first inspection of the Collection from the Cavern of Bruniquel, 
at the Chateau de Salette, January 22nd, 1864. They were afterwards shown by the 
Vicomte de Lastic to MM. Milne-Ed wards and Lartet on their visit of inspection at 
Salette, February 2nd, 1864, and are noticed by those gentlemen in the communica- 
tion made to the Academy of Sciences, February 8th, 1864. (See the 4 Compte Rendu’ 
of that 4 Seance ’ of the Academy.) 
I subjoin a copy of the ‘Letter’ in which the name of the discoverer of outline 
drawings on bone by cave-dwellers of a 4 Flint-period,’ and the date of the determination 
of a species now extinct in the locality so inhabited, as a subject of such drawing, are 
given. 
“ Salette, January 24th, 1864. 
44 Dear Sir, — I arrived at St. Antonin on Thursday evening, was met by Vicomte de 
Lastic and driven to the Chateau, where we arrived about 6 p.m. 
44 Friday, 22nd, was spent in examining the collection here. It is the most numerous, 
varied, and perfect series of the works in flint and bones of the earliest known human 
race that exists ; it includes also a rich series of the remains of beasts and birds of the 
Cavern of Bruniquel from which the implements were obtained, and, above all, it con- 
tains the most unequivocal evidence of human bones, in conditions of imbedding demon- 
strative of their belonging to the earliest inhabited period of the cavern. 
44 In the present phase of research into Man’s antiquity, and the general interest felt in 
that supreme question in his history, it is most important that these evidences be secured 
for the British Museum. Yesterday (23rd) I accompanied Vicomte de Lastic to the 
