manner of expression. Measurements of several Wallon skulls showed that a greater amount of dolichocephaly was attained in them than amongst any other Keltic race, except the Kerry Irish. On an Inscribed Stone at Newhaggard, in the County of Meath. By EUGENE A. CONWELL, LL.D., M.R.I.A. The author stated that the stone, of which a rough drawing of the natural size was exhibited, lies in a field near the river Boyne, belonging to J. Youell, Esq. The stone is a block of Old Red Sandstone, 2 ft. 11 in. x 2 ft. 10 in. x 1 ft. 8 in. It is known in the neighbourhood by the name of "the Giant's finger-stone." It is now 115 yards from a circular earthen encampment, which the author described. There are characters on all of its surfaces which the author believes to be cut, and not punched. The author is not able to give any interpretation of these markings. On the Origin of the Domestic Animals of Europe. None of them date so far back as the Quaternary age. The sheep, goat, smallhorned ox (Bos longifrons), the domestic horse, the dog, the tamed wild boar, and the turf-hog, to which all the European swine can be traced, appeared in Europe at the same time in the Neolithic age. He argued that they were probably derived from the East, and imported by a pastoral people from the central plateau of Asia. The evidence afforded on the point by the southern forms of vegetation found along with this group of animals in the Swiss lakes adds considerable weight to this view. In Britain, down to the time of the English invasion, there was no evidence of any larger breed of oxen than the small short-horned Bos longifrons; the larger breed of the Urus type were probably imported by the English, and is represented in the present day in its purity by the white-bodied, red-eared Chillingham ox, In the course of the discussion Dr. Sclater fully agreed with the views of the speaker as to the eastern origin of our domestic animals, since the East is the only region in which the wild ancestors of the domestic breeds are now found. On the attempted Classification of the Paleolithic Age by means of the The late eminent French naturalist, M. Lartet, acting on an à priori consideration, has attempted to divide up the Paleolithic age into four distinct periods. "L'age du grand ours des cavernes, l'age de l'éléphant et du rhinocéros, l'age du renne, et l'age de l'aurochs." The very simplicity of this system has made it popular. There are, however, two fatal objections to this mode of classification. In the first place, nobody could expect to find the whole Quaternary fauna buried in one spot. One animal could not fail to be better represented in one locality than another, and therefore the contents of the cave- and river-deposits must always have been different. The den of a hyæna could hardly be expected to afford precisely the same animals as a cave which had been filled with bones by the action of water. It therefore follows that the very diversity which M. Lartet insists upon as representing different periods of time, must necessarily have been the result of different animals occupying the same area at the same time. In the second place, M. Lartet has not advanced a shadow of proof as to which of these animals was the first to arrive in Europe. From the fact that the glacial period was colder than the quaternary, it is probable that the arctic mammalia, the mammoth, woolly rhinoceros, and the reindeer arrived here before the advent of the cave-bear. It is undoubtedly true that they died out one by one, and it is very probable that they also came in gradually. The fossil remains from the English caves and river-deposits, as, for instance, those of Kent's Hole or Bedford, prove only that the animals inhabited Britain at the same time, and do not in the least degree warrant any speculation as to which animal came here first. Nor does it apply to France or Belgium, for in the reindeer-caves of both these countries the four animals in question occ r together the mammoth with the reindeer, and the aurochs with the cave-bear. In Belgium, indeed, the reindeer was probably living in the Neolithic, Bronze, and Iron ages, since it lived in the Hercynian forest in the days of Julius Cæsar. A Gleam of the Saxon in the Weald, By WALTER Dendy. On the Relative Ages of the Flint- and Stone-Implement Periods in England. By J. W. FLOWER, F.G.S. In this paper, the author, after pointing out the great importance of the subject in relation to anthropology, stated that he proposed to show that, having regard to the result of recent researches and observations, the arrangement hitherto usually adopted of dividing the stone age into two epochs or periods only (Paleolithic and Neolithic) was insufficient, as regards England, and that for the purpose of scientific investigation, that which has been called the Paleolithic, might properly be subdivided into at least three distinct periods. That upon geological grounds, the Drift-implement period must be regarded as remote by a vast interval from the Bone-cave period, with which it has been classed by Sir Charles Lyell and Sir John Lubbock, inasmuch as the gravels and sands which now overlie the implement-bearing gravels must certainly have been deposited after the implements were formed, and the production of such considerable masses of detritus can only have been the work of very extended periods of time, which had been conjectured as embracing even 100,000 years. That since these implements were made, it was obvious that most important geological changes had occurred, and in particular, that during this interval England had been severed from the continent of Europe, as the Isle of Wight had been separated from England. That in England and in France the gravel in, or under which the implements were found, as well as the animal remains found with them, were of precisely the same origin and mineral character, and in both countries resting immediately upon the Chalk; and as further evidence that the implements were made before the separation; and that thus the two countries were then inhabited, may be noticed the fact, that both in the valley of the Somme, and in that of the Little Ouse in Norfolk, the implement-bearing beds are overlain by thick deposits of peat, containing precisely the same vegetable and animal remains, which in both countries are quite distinct from those of the Drift, and of a far later date-amongst others, the Beaver, Bos longifrons, Roe, Wild Boar, and Red Deer. As further evidence of the extreme antiquity of these objects, Mr. Flower also drew attention to the circumstance, that hitherto no implement of the true drifttype had been found north-west of a line drawn from the estuary of the Severn to that of the Wash, between Norfolk and Lincolnshire, following the Lias escarpment, and only a little northward of the limit of the Boulder-clay deposit; and he suggested it as by no means impossible, that when these implements were made, the north of England, and perhaps all Scotland and Wales, were still submerged; and that although the implements were certainly found in Bedfordshire and Norfolk lying on Boulder-clay, those districts, not improbably, were elevated, and perhaps inhabited very long before the lands now lying to the north-west became habitable. The author considered it extremely improbable that either the drift implements or the gravels in or under which they are found, if transported by river-action, should have been deposited, as had been commonly supposed, by rivers which then ran in the same direction, and drained the same areas as now; inasmuch as they have lately been found at such elevations, and in such situations, as to preclude the belief that at any period since the surface assumed its present contours, any existing rivers could have effected the transport; and in support of this view several recent discoveries were referred to. He further observed that it seemed by no means certain,, as was generally believed, that the makers of the flint implements were contemporary with the elephants and other animals, with whose remains they were often found asso ciated; proximity does not of necessity imply (although it may suggest) contemporaneity, at least not in deposits of this character. The animal remains were undoubtedly transported from some distance, together with the gravel in which they are now found, whereas, from various indications which the author specified, it seemed evident that the implements were manufactured from stone taken from that gravel, and at that time lying exposed upon the surface. In order to show that the implements of the Drift were of far greater variety in form and use, and much better workmanship than those of later times, Mr. Flower exhibited a large series, showing sixteen or eighteen distinct forms; and as evidencing the paleontological distinction between the Drift- and the Cave-periods, he stated that while the former contained, so far as at present known with certainty, only six genera and seven species, the latter exhibited fourteen additional species, comprising the important forms of Hyæna, Wolf, Lion, Badger, Elk, and Hare, and thus exhibiting (with one somewhat doubtful exception, that of the Cave-bear) the first appearance of Carnivora amongst the postglacial mammals. Mr. Flower then adverted to the entire absence from the Drift of any works of art other than the implements, whilst the Caves presented numerous forms of weapons and tools in bone as well as in stone and flint, only one of which could be said to agree with a Drift form; and he added that the Tumulus- or Barrowperiod, which he considered was the next distinct Stone-period in order of time in England, was separated from that of the Caves by an interval of vast duration, as indicated by the entire disappearance of the Carnivora and Pachydermata found in the caves, and the introduction, by creation (or as some might say by evolution), of a Fauna almost entirely new, comprising almost all our domestic animals, and in addition the use of bronze, jet, and amber, and other objects indicative of a great advance in civilization. In conclusion the author expressed his opinion that inasmuch as bronze was certainly in use at the same time with the stone implements of both the Palæolithic and Neolithic types, as evidenced by its presence as well in Celtic tumuli as in the megalithic monuments of presumably later date, it could not properly be regarded as posterior to either of them, or as representing any distinct epoch; and as regarded the Stone-period, he suggested that what had been known as the Paleolithic might properly be classified under three heads, viz. Paleolithic, to be confined to implements and tools of the Drift; Archaic for the Bone-cave objects, and those of like date found on the surface, while the term Prehistoric might be used to designate the rude stone flakes and knives &c. found in the barrows; the term Neolithic might be applied to all the polished or ground stone implements, while the term Bronze might be regarded as common to both that and the Archaic period, rather than as representing any distinct era. On Centenarian Longevity. By Sir DUNCAN GIBB., Bart., M.D. His observations had reference to the physical condition of centenarians, which helped to show how they were enabled to reach such a great age. They were derived from a comparison of four genuine examples he had himself seen. These he hoped to raise to six in a few days by a visit to two others near Edinburgh. Of the four, two were males, each 103 years of age, and two females, aged 101 and 102; the last of the four was still alive. Regarding their age there was no doubt; for he had been as careful on that point as any believer in the questionable assertion of Sir George Cornewall Lewis that no one ever reached a hundred years. The author found in all four the functions of breathing and circulation performed with the most complete and perfect integrity, there being an absence even of those changes usually seen as the result of ordinary old age. The chest was well formed and of fairly good capacity; the cartilages of the ribs were not ossified; the voice was good, clear, sonorous, and powerful, though a little cracked and tremulous in two-its power depending upon the capacity of the chest and integrity of the lungs. The heart (the great organ of the circulation) was quite healthy, and free from the chief sources of trouble in old persons-namely, fat or its compounds. This circumstance, although it did not prevent moderate calcification of the blood vessels, yet was a conservator of all the tissues of the body, and especially prevented the occurrence of those changes which tend to shorten life. There was an absence of the atheromatous changes commonly observed in old people. This explained the appearance of the countenance in all, and imparted a sort of silvery expression, with apparently great toughness of the skin, which the author deemed an essential peculiarity in persons over ninety. All the special senses were unimpaired except hearing. The eye was clear in all, the sight excellent, all could read ordinary type without spectacles; there was no arc or ring round the clear part of the eye, as observed in most old people. The sense of smell was good; none smoked, used snuff, nor chewed tobacco. The hearing was somewhat impaired in three; in one of the males it was so acute that he could hear the slightest sound. The mental faculties were active in all, the memory good. The general health was capital in all, appetite and digestion good, the latter, indeed, uncommonly strong; all possessed the good, sound teeth they had masticated with when young. From this it was readily understood their digestive powers were capital. Taking, then, the condition of mind and body presented by the four undoubted centenarians, it may be said that in all there was an absence of those changes usually observed in persons approaching the allotted period of threescore and ten. These changes have reference chiefly to the condition of the blood-vessels and other tissues which are so seldom found absent. Suffice it to say that complete composure of mind throughout life has had much to do with the condition of body permitting the attainment of such great longevity; there was no hereditary condition also to interfere with nature's laws under such circumstances. Climate does not seem to interfere with longevity, for centenarians are said to be numerous in Russia. To reach that age not only must the constitution be naturally a good and healthy one, but all the great functions of life must be performed without any impediment. If the special senses are coordinately good, they assist in keeping up the condition favourable to longevity. But there is one change antagonistic to extreme longevity, and it is the most important one-namely, the predominance of the atheromatous element which leads to those changes, in the blood-vessels especially, which close life at the natural period. Simplicity of regimen and avoidance of those elements of food which in their assimilation help to bring on those changes may ward it off altogether, although the author was not able to make out whether the four centenarians he spoke of had been in any way particular on this point. In conclusion, he said he believed all centenarians were tired of life, however extraordinary it might appear, and were thankful when it pleased God to remove them from this world. A Note on the Fat Woman exhibiting in London. As a rule, he said, enormously fat women were rare compared with men. Caroline Heenan, now exhibiting in London, is twenty-two years old, and weighs 40 stone, or 560 lbs.; she is 7 feet round the body, 3 feet 6 inches across the shoulders, and 26 inches round the arm. Differing from most fat people, though the limbs are very large, they are not exclusively composed of fat, a large proportion being due to muscular development, which is confirmed by her history and actual inspection. The chest and abdomen are of course enormous, but not from simple obesity. Her growth and enlargement have been progressive from infancy, and withal she has been able to sustain great muscular exercise that would have fatigued ordinary persons, which is opposed to the view of pure adipose enlargement. At nine months she weighed 70 lbs., at nine years she was 11 stone, and at fourteen years 24 stone. She is handsome and pleasing, face not fat nor greasy, is highly intelligent, and not in any way drowsy. She will in all probability progressively increase as she gets older, and may become the largest and heaviest female who has yet been seen. The Hereditary Transmission of Endowments and Qualities of different kinds. By GEORGE HARRIS, F.S.A. The Comparative Longevity of Animals of different Species and of Man, and the probable Causes which mainly conduce to promote this difference. By GEORGE HARRIS, F.S.A. The Adantean Race of Western Europe. By J. W. JACKSON. On the Anthropology of Auguste Comte. By J. KAINES, M.A.I. &c. The sources of this paper are to be found in the chapters on "Biology" and "Fetichism" of M. Comte's 'Philosophie Positive' and in the third chapter of the 'Politique Positive.' The paper itself aimed to show that the differences between man and the rest of the animal kingdom were not so great as they are usually represented; nor, in fact, were they so numerous as their resemblances. Treating man as the head of the zoological series, it argued that his dominion over animals was from primitive times, and is now a moral dominion rather than intellectual. Man, he went on to say, was the first of animals-not the last of angels. Zoology knew nothing of angels. What differences existed between man and animals were of degree rather than quality. Both knew want, suffering, and sorrow; both had intellect and moral sense; both were educable by love, both had their likes and dislikes, both had to struggle for existence, both were interested by the same sights. What was new struck both and perplexed both alike. Both exhibited faithfulness, reverence, love, pity, and remorse. There was not wanting evidence that both passed through the same intellectual and moral developments. Seeing, then, that the animals had so much in common, what had led man to separate himself from the animals, to exalt himself above them ?-the possession of reason, while the animals had instinct only, some persons might say. But a little reflection would show that man was almost as much a creature of instinct as the other animals. A sound biological philosophy made no difference between man and the other animals; on the contrary, it sought to trace his genesis from inferior organisms. Several species of animals had undoubtedly the speculative faculty, which led to a kind of fetichism. The difference was that man had raised himself out of this limited darkness, which the brutes had not yet, except a few select animals in which a beginning to polytheism might be observed, obtained, no doubt, by association with man. If, for instance, we exhibited a watch to a child or a savage on the one hand, and to a dog and a monkey on the other, there would be no great difference in their way of regarding the new object further than their form of expression. The author went on to complain that hitherto psychology had limited itself to the study of man alone, and even his nature had been regarded only from its intellectual side. The psychology of animals had yet to be studied, and that with a desire only to arrive at truth. In concluding, the author urged that it was only in so far as all external nature was used by man for moral ends that it was rightly used, and that the intellect found its true work in directing his affective nature to moral purposes and relations. The Lapps. By Dr. R. KING. The Laplander offers himself for our inspection as the only European who in any way represents the Circumpolar tribes. The exact position of the Lapps in classification is still an open question. Professor Agassiz classifies them with the Esquimaux and Samoiedes. Dr. Prichard, relying upon philological evidence (a very unsafe guide when taken alone), maintains that the Lapps are Finns who have acquired Mongolian features from a long residence in Northern Europe, but according to Arthur de Capel Brookes, who passed a winter amongst them, the Laplander and Finn have scarcely a single trait in common. The general physiognomy of the one is totally unlike that of the other; and no one who has ever seen the two could mistake a Finlander for a Laplander. A critical examination of three Laplander crania and two casts, contained in the collection of Dr. Morton, and a comparison of these with a number of Finnic skulls, convince the author |