adults formed between one third and one half of the herds of Bisons which were destroyed; while the old animals were comparatively rare. The condition of many of the milk-teeth implies that some of the calves were not more than from three to five months old at the time of their death—a fact which proves that they haunted this spot in the summer and autumn, from June to November.
In order to arrive at an idea of the number of individuals represented by the teeth, I selected the last lower true and milk-molars, with the result of establishing the presence in this spot of no less than 34 animals; and even these figures, as will be seen presently from the examination of the bones, by no means represent the true number[1].
Scapulæ. The shoulder-blades, as might be expected from their delicacy, were comparatively few, numbering only 35. Their glenoid articulation presented diameters ranging from 3⋅6 x 2⋅9 to 2⋅8 x 2⋅4 inches.
The variation in the size and form of the rest of the bones of the limbs may be gathered from the examination of the Table of measurements, in inches (p. 247).
The animals represented by this large series of bones and teeth cannot certainly be fewer than 40, as proved by the humeri; and they may amount to 60, since I could identify very few as having belonged to the same individual.
The bones, in the great majority of cases, had been broken in process of extraction; and very few presented marks of gnawing. Some of the femora, however, were scored with teeth-marks, feebly impressed as compared with those to be seen in the dens of Hyænas. So feeble, indeed, was the gnawing-power exercised on the bones that there were several cases of the head of the femur having been attacked without success. These marks, therefore, cannot be attributed to the powerful jaws of the Hyæna, but have been probably produced by the Bears and Wolves of which the remains were found in the same place.
Very few of the bones presented traces of disease, with the exception of the metacarpals, of which one fourth, or 10 out of 40, had been injured in front, probably by either kicks or stumbling. None of the metatarsals bore the same kind of marks, as might be expected from their being less liable to injury.
§ 3. Reindeer.—The remains of the Reindeer (Cervus tarandus) consisted of 2 skulls, 19 fragments of frontals bearing antlers, and 23 antler-fragments; and with one exception these belong to young adults. The teeth, jaws, and bones amount to 491; and of the first of these (78 in number), 21, or one quarter, were milk-molars or fangless teeth of the true molar series. The milk-molars, however, belong to older animals than those of the Bison; and among them only one third are lower molars with imperfectly developed fangs.
- ↑ For the detailed examination and comparison of this fine series of teeth, I must refer to the Appendix to "The British Fossil Oxen" (Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc.), which I hope shortly to finish.
