tending to show a similarity between the habits of the ancient inhabitants of Scotland and North Wales, the flakes differing only in their material.
Dr. Mantell observed that the flakes were of a hard kind of siliceous grit stone. He considered the impressed lines described by Mr. Ffoulkes to be ripple marks, such as are frequently to be found on the surface of laminated rocks.
Mr. Farnham Maxwell Lyte communicated some particulars regarding the examination of a cavern in the limestone rock at Berry Head, Devon, of a similar character to the remarkable cavern near Torquay, known as "Kent's Hole." In both instances human remains with manufactured objects had been found overlying an accumulation which contains the fossil bones of animals extinct in these islands. The discoveries at Berry Head are noticed by Mr. Bellamy, in his Natural History of South Devon, but no detailed account has been given. Mr. Lyte exhibited relics of bronze and bone, with numerous fragments of pottery, vestiges of some early race, inhabitants of the cave, and several crania, found amongst the debris with which the cavern had become encumbered. The original floor was coated with stalagmite, under which were discovered numerous animal remains; amongst these Dr. Mantell pointed out those of the rhinoceros, hyæna, elk, and reindeer, with bones of the horse, ox, and stag.[1]
The Rev. C. W. Bingham sent a note of the recent discovery of several Roman vessels of fictile manufacture, by John Floyer, Esq., M.P., at Stafford, near Dorchester. They are of dark brown ware, with the exception of one little saucer, of "Samian," found placed, apparently, between the legs of a skeleton. The others were close to another skeleton of larger stature. Adjacent to these remains were the skeleton of a horse, bones of other animals, and a boar's tusk. They lay near the surface, on the top of a line of hills about a quarter of a mile south of the railroad and Rectory house. About 20 yards distant there is a tumulus.
Mr. Hewitt described the peculiarities of a remarkable head piece, a very rare example of the times of Richard II., which by his kindness was placed before the meeting. (See the accompanying representation.)
"This very rare example of a beaked helmet has lately been added to the Tower collection, furnishing an important link in the series of early head-defences now to be found in that depository. It is said to have been brought from Donnington Castle, in Berkshire, and to have belonged to Sir Richard de Abberbury, lord of that castle, who was guardian of Richard II. during his minority; and of whom neither archaeologist nor historian should forget to tell that, though expulsion from court was the consequence, he resolutely adhered to the cause of his prince, when the tide of fortune had turned against him.
"The helmet is made entirely of iron, in five pieces, of which four are firmly locked together by rivets; the fifth, the visor, being moveable on pivots at the sides. The five parts are, the bassinet, the visor, a piece covering the cheeks and chin, the gorget, and a plate at the back of the neck; these last three exactly replacing the camail of chain-mail found in other head-pieces of the period. A curious contrivance appears in front of the bassinet, not hitherto noticed either in real or fictitious examples—a bolt, which being forced by a spring through an aperture in the metal, keeps down the visor when once it has been drawn over the face. The
- ↑ See observations on the character of the ossiferous caverns in limestone rocks, in Dr. Mantell's "Petrifactious and their Teachings."
