146 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



that edible substances were placed in them, in the belief 

 that food should be provided for the use of the corpse. It 

 is questionable, however, if the taller variety were drinking 

 cups, as the unglazed clay would not fit them for the 

 retention of liquids for any length of time. Their presence 

 in the stone cists, along with, in some instances, implements 

 and weapons, would point to the belief, in the minds of those 

 practising this form of interment, in a resurrection of the 

 body, and a restoration to the wants and habits of the 

 previous life. It may be that placing the body in the 

 crouching position, lying on one side, was regarded as the 

 attitude best fitted, when the proper time came, to enable 

 it to spring into the erect position and assume an active 

 state of existence. The practice of cremation, however, to 

 an almost equal extent as inhumation, by people of the same 

 period, shows that they may not all have shared in the belief 

 in a corporeal resurrection. But it should not be forgotten 

 that, even in many cremation interments, blades and other 

 objects made of bronze have been found along with the 

 burnt bones and cinerary urns, as if for use in a future life. 



(To be continued.} 



THE PROTECTION OF WILD BIRDS AND 

 THEIR EGGS IN SCOTLAND. 



THANKS to the courtesy of Lord Balfour of Burleigh, Her 

 Majesty's Secretary for Scotland, we are enabled to reproduce, 

 for the benefit of our readers, certain documents which have 

 lately been issued from the Scottish Office, and which should 

 have an important bearing upon the future administration of 

 the Wild Birds Acts in Northern Britain. 



Herein a scheme is suggested for adoption, which is so 

 comprehensive and concise, and the general tenor of the 

 Circular wherein it is propounded so excellent, that it 

 demands little or no introduction or commentary at our 

 hands. Indeed, it is admirably prefaced by a letter from 

 Lord Balfour's pen addressed to the conveners of County 



