of the Dordogne caves. We have no doubt that the artist who
engraved it was perfectly familiar with the animal itself.

Illustration of Mammoth--La Madeline Cave, France.----------

Their artistic skill was not confined to the execution of drawings. They
frequently carved pieces of reindeer horn into various animal forms. Our
next cut shows us a dagger, the handle of which is carved to imitate a
reindeer. It will be seen how the artist has adapted the position of
the animal to the necessities of the case. Flowers are very
seldom represented; but one implement from France has a very nice
representation of some flowering plant engraved on it.

Take it all in all, the possession of this artistic instinct is
certainly remarkable--the more so when we remember the rudeness of his
surroundings, and the few and simple means at his command for work. "A
splinter of flint was his sole graving tool; a piece of reindeer horn,
or a flake of slate or ivory, was the only plate on which primitive man
could stamp his reproduction of animated nature."<29>

Illustration of Reindeer Carved on Dagger Handle.-------

Some speculations have been indulged in as to whether we have any traces
of a government amongst the Paleolithic people. That they had some chief
or leader is more than probable. In the caves of France we find a number
of fragments of reindeer horn. Generally speaking, they show evidence of
a good deal of care in making them. They are carved and ornamented with
sketches of various animals, and invariably have one or more holes bored
in the base. The idea has been quite freely advanced, that these are
emblems of authority.<30> And some have pointed out, that, though they
are too light for use as weapons, yet, their "frequent occurrence,
and uniformity of type, show that they possess a conventional
significance."<31> Mr. Geikie says that these conjectures "are mere
guess-work."<32> And Mr. Dawkins points out that they are very similar
in design and ornament with an implement of the Eskimos known as an
"arrow-straightener."<33>

Whatever may be our conclusions in regard to these ornamented pieces of
reindeer horn, we can not doubt but that their social instincts found
expression in some sort of alliance for the common good. This is shown
by several facts: such, for instance, as the evidence of trade or barter
between localities considerable distances apart. The inhabitants of
Belgium must have gone to what is now Southe