Whilstheevidentlypreferredtohuntandeatthelargermammals，manwhenpressedbyhungerdidnotdespisethesmallrodents，whichwere，ofcourse，moreeasilycaptured。Amongstpilesofthebonesofhorsesandstagshavebeenfoundtheremainsofmartens，hedgehogs，andmice；andfromtheThayngenCavehavebeentakenthebonesofmorethanfivehundredbares。InBelgiumthewater-ratseemstohavebeenconsideredadainty，andintheChaleuxCavealonewerefoundmorethantwentypounds’weightofthebonesofthiscreature，nearlyallbearingtracesofhavingbeensubjectedtotheactionoffire。
Theremainsofbirdsarerarer，andBrocahasremarkedthatthemostancienthuntingimplementswhichhavecomedowntous；thosefromtheMoustierCave，forinstance，wereadaptedrathertoattackanimalsthatwouldshowfightthanthosethatwouldsimplyflyorrunaway。TheGourdanCave，however，hasyieldedthebonesofthemoor-fowl，thepartridge，thewildduck，andeventhedomesticatedcockAndhen；theFrontalCave，thethrush，theduck，thepartridge，andthepigeon；
andinothercaveswerefoundthebonesofthegoose，theswan，andthegrouse。Milne-Edwardsenumeratesfifty-onespeciesbelongingtodifferentordersfoundinthecavesofFrance，andM。RivierepickeduptheremainsofthousandsofbirdsinthoseofBaousse-RousseonthefrontierofItaly。[50]
Theskullsofthemammalsbadbeenopened，andthebonessplit。Brainsandmarrowprobablyfiguredatfeastsasthegreatestdelicacies。Travellers，whosetalesareahelptousinbuildingupapictureoftheremotepastofourrace，relatethattheLaplanders，assoonasananimaliskilled，breakopenitsskullanddevourthebrainwhilstitisstillwarmandbleeding。Thiswasprobablyalsothecustomamongstprehistoriccave-men。
Thefleshofanimalswasnot，alas，theonlymeateaten，andexcavationsindifferentpartsoftheglobehaveledtothediscoveryoftracesofthepracticeofcannibalismwhichitisdifficultnottoaccept。[51]
Dr。SpringnoticedatChauvauxagreatmanyboneswhichwerenearlyallthoseofwomenandchildren，sidebysidewithwhichlayothersofruminantsbelongingtospeciesstillextant。Allthesebonesbadalikebeensubjectedtogreatheat，andnonebutthosewhichbadcontainednomarrowwereleftunbroken。Thisappearsanincontrovertibleproofofcannibalism，andDr。SpringconcludesthatitwascertainlypractisedbytheearliestinhabitantsofBelgium。Wemustadd，however，thatotherexcavationsinthesamecaveatChauvauxprovethatitwasusedasaburial-place，someskeletonsbeingrangedinregularorderwithweaponsandstoneimplementsplacedbesidethem。[52]M。DupontmentionshavingfoundinthecavesoftheLesse，whichdatefromtheReindeerperiod，humanbonesmixedwithotherremainsofameal。HenotesasimilarfactinanothercavethatheconsidersbelongstoNeolithictimes。“But，“headds，“noneofthesebonesbearanytraceofhavingbeenstruckwithaflintorothertoolwithaviewtotheirfracture。Ifanyofthemarebrokenitistransversely，andthecauseofthefracturehasbeenmerelytheweightoftheearthabovethem；
moreover，theyshownotraceoftheactionoffire。“[53]M。Dupont，therefore，stillretainssomedoubtofthecannibalismofthecave-menofthevalleyoftheLesse，andattributesthepresenceofthebonesofthedeadamongsttherubbishofallkindsaccumulatedbytheliving，totheiridlenessandindifference。Oneexampleatthepresentdaytendstoconfirmthisopinion，fortravellerstellusofthesamerevoltingcarelessnessamongsttheEsquimaux，whocannotcertainlybeclassedamongstcannibals。
TheAbbeChierici，speakingattheBrusselsCongress[54]oftheexcavationsinoneoftheReggiocaves，remarkedthathumanbonesweremixedwiththoseofanimals，andthatbothshowedtracesofhavingbeenburnt。ThesebonesdatefromtheNeolithicperiod，andwiththemwerepickedupvariousobjectsofremarkableworkmanship，includingfragmentsofpottery，halfagrindstoneforcrushinggrain，andsomeadmirablypolishedserpentinehatchets。
OtherfactsleavenodoubtofthecannibalismoftheearliestinhabitantsofItaly。Moreover，hesitationonthispointisimpossibleforotherreasons，asRomanhistoriansalludetothepractice。Pliny，[55]insayinghowlittleremovedwasahumansacrificefromameal，adds，thatitoughtnottosurpriseustomeetwiththismonstrouscustomamongstbarbarianraces，asitprevailedinancienttimesinItalyandSicily。
Itisgenerallyadmittedthatwecantellwhetherthefractureoflongboneswasintentionalbythewayinwhichtheywerebroken。Thisfact，whichistruealikewiththebonesofmenandofanimals，isthemostimportantproofwehaveofthecannibalismofthemenoftheStoneage。Totheexamplesalreadygiven，wecaneasilyaddothersculledfromFrance。InthePyreneesandinthecavesofLourdesandGourdan，forinstance，humanboneshavebeenfoundmixedwiththecindersandashesofthehearth，andstillbearingthemarksoftheimplementswithwhichtheywerebroken。
AtBruniquelahumanskullwasfoundwhichhadbeenopenedinthesamewayastheheadsofruminantsamongstwhichitwaspickedup，andonitsexternalsurfaceweredeepnotches，whichappeartohavebeenmadewithaflinthatchet。Similartracesofrevoltingfeastsonhumanflesharenotatallrare；nearParis，atVilleneuve-Saint-Georges，andatVarenne-Saint-Maur，forinstance。[56]
TheexcavationsintheMontesquieu-AvantesCave，aboutsixmilesfromSaint-Girons，havebroughttolightahearthcoveredoverwithalayerofstalagmite；numerousfragmentsofhumanbones，crania，femora，tibiae，humeri，andradiiwerefoundinthislayer，andinthatofthesubjacentclay。Inmanycasesthemedullaryorificehadbeenenlargedtomakeiteasiertogetoutthemarrow。Itisimpossibletoattributethistoarodent，forthebonesgnawedbyanimalsofthatkindpresentaregularseriesofmarks。Theconclusionisinevitable：thesebones，alikeofmenandofanimals，weretheremainsofameal。[57]
InKent’sHole，thecelebratedcaveinDevonshire，amongstmanyobjectsdatingfromtheStoneage，werefoundsomehumanbonesbearingtracesofhavingbeengnawedbyman。Theeminentanthropologist，Owen，cametoasimilarconclusion——thatcannibalismhadbeenpractised——
afterexaminingthejaw-boneofachildfoundinScotland；andsodidtheRev。F。Porter，aftertheexcavationsnearScarborough，whereseveralskeletonswerefoundunderatumulus，whichhadapparentlybeenthrownwheretheywerediscoveredbyaccident。
TheCesaredacavesinPortugalhaveyieldedsomebonessplitlengthwise；andbeneaththedolmennearthevillageofHammer，inDenmark，humanbonesandthoseofstagshavebeenfoundhalfgnawed，andshowingonlytooclearlytheoriginofthemarksuponthem。WorsaaequotessimilarfactsatBorreby，ChantresreferstothesamethinginthecavesoftheCaucasus，CaptainBurtonatBeitsahur，nearJerusalem，WienerintheSAMBAQUISofBrazil，evenindepositswhichheconsidersofrecentorigin。[58]
BrazilisnottheonlypartoftheAmericancontinentinwhichwefindtracesoftheuseofthisrevoltingfood。Inthekitchen-middingsofFloridaWymanfoundhumanbones，whichhadbeenintentionallybroken，mixedwiththoseofdeerandbeavers。Themarrowhadbeentakenfromallofthemandeatenbyman。YetmorerecentdiscoveriesofasimilarkindhavebeenmadeinNewEngland。[59]
Wemust，however，addthatmanyofthesefactsarecontested。Everypeopleconsidersitapointofhonortorepudiatetheideathatitsancestorsfedonhumanflesh，andyeteverywherehistorytellsusofthepracticeofcannibalism。HerodotusspeaksofitamongsttheAndrophagaeandtheIssedones，peopleofScythianorigin；AristotleamongsttheraceslivingonthebordersofthePontusEuxinus；
DiodorusSiculusamongsttheGalatians；andStrabo，inhisturn，says：“TheIrish，moresavagethantheBretons，arecannibalsandpolyphagous；theyconsideritanhonortoeattheirparentssoonafterlifeisextinct。“[60]
FromtheancienttombsofGeorgiahavebeentakenhumanbonesthathavebeenboiledorcharred，whichweredoubtlessthoseofthevictimseatenbytheassistantsintheFETESwhichhaveeveraccompaniedfuneralrites。
InthefourthcenturyofoureraJeromespeaksofhavingmetinGaulwiththeAttacotes，descendedfromasavageScotchtribe，whofedonhumanflesh，andthatthoughtheypossessedgreatherdsofcattleandflocksofsheep，withnumbersofpigs，forwhomtheirvastforestsaffordedexcellentgrazinggrounds[61]；andthoughtheScandinaviankitchen-middingshavenotsofaryieldedanytracesofthepracticeofcannibalism，AdamofBremen，whopreachedChristianityatthecourtofKingSweynUlfson，representstheDanesofhisdayasbarbarianscladintheskinsofbeasts，chasingtheaurochsandtheeland，unabletodomorethanimitatethecriesofanimalsanddevouringthefleshoftheirfellow-men。[62]
NothingcouldexceedthebarbarityoftheMexicansacrifices，thenumbersofthevictims，andtherefinementsoftorturetowhichtheyweresubjected。Prisoners，whohadoftenbeenfattenedformonthspreviously，perishedbythousandsonthealtars。Thepalpitatingfleshwasdistributedamongsttheassistants，andahorriblecustomcompelledtheprieststoclothethemselvesinthestillbleedingskinsoftheunfortunatewretches，andtowearthemuntiltheyrottedtopieces。
Withoutgoingbacktoanantiquitysoremote，inhowmanydifferentregionsofAfricaandAmerica，andinhowmanyislandsofPolynesiahavenotoursailorsandmissionariesreportedthepracticeofcannibalisminourownday？Itisdifficult，therefore，nottobelieve，althoughthefactcannotperhapsbeverydistinctlyproved，thatthefirstinhabitantsofEuropedegradedasweretheconditionsoftheirexistence，dideathumanfleshandacquireadepravedtasteforit；impelledtheretonotonlybythepangsofhunger，butalsobyarevoltingsuperstition。
Animals，however，wereveryplentifulallaround。Stags，elks，aurochs，horses，andthelargepachydermsmultipliedveryrapidlyinthewidesolitudes，thepasturelandsofwhichaffordedthemaconstantlyrenewedsupplyoffood，andthebeastsofpreyintheirturnfoundaneasypreyintheruminants。[63]Thewaysofanimalsdonotchange，andthetravellerswhoareexploringtheinteriorofAfricatellusthatnow，asinthedaywearetryingtorecall，hundredsofelephantsandrhinocerosescongregateinalimitedarea，whilstinnumerableherdsofgiraffes，zebras，andgazellesgrazepeacefullyinthepresenceofman，whosedestructivepowerstheyhavenotyetlearnttodread。
Delegorguespeaksofonelakepeopledbymorethanonehundredhippopotami，andofaregionlessthanthreemilesindiametercontainingsixhundredelephants。Livingstonetellsusthathesawtroopsofmorethanfourthousandantelopespassatatime，andthattheseanimalsshowedabsolutelynofear。Wemaygiveayetmorecuriousinstance。CaptainGordonCumming，crossingtheplainsstretchingawayonthenorthoftheCape，sawtroopsofgazellesandantelopes，compelledbyalongdroughttomigrateinsearchofthewaterindispensabletothem，andbedescribeswithenthusiasmoneofthesemigrations，tellingusthattheplainwasliterallycoveredwithanimals，thehurryingherdsdefilingbeforehiminanendlessstream。Ontheeveningofthesameday，ayetmorenumerousherdpassedbyinthesamedirection，thenumbersofwhichwereabsolutelyincalculable，butwhich，accordingtoCumming，musthaveexceededseveralhundredthousand。
SuchmusthavebeenanimallifeinEuropeinQuaternarytimes。“Grandindeed，“criesHughMiller，“wasthefaunaoftheBritishIslesinthosedays。Tigers，aslargeagainasthebiggestAsiaticspecies，lurkedintheancientthickets；elephants，ofnearlytwicethebulkofthelargestindividualsthatnowexistinAfricaorCeylon，roamedinherds；atleasttwospeciesofrhinocerosforcedtheirwaythroughtheprimevalforest，andthelakesandriversweretenantedbyhippopotamiasbulkyandwithasgreattusksasthoseofAfrica。“[64]
Materialproofsofthepresenceofanimalsarenotwanting。TheaccumulationofcoprolitesinthecaveofSentenheimAlsacebearswitnesstothenumberofbearswhichoncehauntedit。NordmanntookfromacavenearOdessa4，500bonesofursidae，associatedwithnolessnumerousrelicsofthelargecave-lionandcave-hyena。[65]
TheKulockCave，nowsomesixhundredandfiftyfeetabovetheriver，containedtheremainsofnolessthan2，500bears，andsimilarrelicsoccurbythousandsintheosseousbrecciaofSantenayandinthecaveofLherm，wheretheyformaregularossuary。ItwouldbeeasytoquotesimilarfactsfromBelgian，German，andHungariancaves。Inalmosteverycasethepositionoftheskeletonsseemstoshowthatthebearssoughtalastrefugeinthecaves，andthatdeathhadsurprisedthemduringtheirwintersleep。Pachydermswerenolessnumerousthanbears。TheremainsofmammothsarefoundfromthenorthofEuropetoGreeceandSpain，andwemeetwiththeminAlgeria，，gypAsiafromtheAltaiMountainstotheArcticOcean，andinAmericainMexicoandKentucky。TheyseemtohaveentrenchedthemselvesespeciallyinSiberia，whencetusksarestillexportedasanarticleofcommerce。IntheextremeNorth，thosepartsofWrangel’sLandwhichhavebeenexploredarestrewnwiththebonesofmastodons，andinsomepartsofSonoraandColumbiatheseremainsformalmostinexhaustibledeposits。
Animalsofthecervineandequinegroupswere，ifpossible，yetmorenumerous。M。PietteestimatesthenumberofreindeerwhoseboneshehaspickedupintheGourdanCaveasover。3，000，andthenumberofcervidaefoundatHohlefelsispositivelyincalculable。