ceive the attention they merited. Sir Charles Lyell paid a visit to Dr. Schmerling in 1833, and expressed some incredulity respecting the alleged antiquity of the fossil bones, but afterwards he changed his opinion and made an apology for his former scepticism. The apology itself is of little consequence, but the statements therein made form a most interesting account of the difficulties under which Dr. Schmerling carried on his researches, and supply evidence of the enthusiasm and persistence with which he advocated what he believed to be truth in face of an unbelieving world.
The discovery by M. Boucher de Perthes of rude flint implements, associated with bones of the mammoth and other extinct animals, in the ancient river gravels of the valley of the Somme, at various heights above the present highest flood-marks of the river, equally failed to attract public attention. An account of his discoveries, under the title Antiquités celtiques et antédiluviennes was published in 1847, but for upwards of ten years it remained a dead letter. At last, through the intervention of a few English savants, his novel antiquities were rescued from obscurity. The first English convert to M. de Perthes' opinions was Dr. Hugh Falconer, F.R.S., who, writing in November 1858, thus expressed himself on the subject:
"After devoting the greater part of a day to his vast collection, I am perfectly satisfied
