HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



cave earch, and beneath this, sand again, but it is 

 Jioped that a careful investigation and record will yet 

 be made of this most interesting "cave. 



As regards the implements and chips that were 

 ■obtained from this deposit, we have already stated 

 that they represented flint of several distinct varieties, 

 many being of the characteristic rich black colour, 

 whilst others were very pale, in some instances re- 

 sembling chalcedony, and in others being much im- 

 pregnated with carbonate of lime. A few fine ex- 

 amples of banded flint occurred. Amongst these were 

 several small celts ; a fine broad spearhead ; other 

 spearheads of a smaller size, about an inch and a half 

 in length ; knives varying from an inch to two inches 

 in length and half an inch in width ; saws having 

 ^ very line serrated edge ; several drills, these were 

 curiously enough found together and were all of one 

 •type, the apex being slightly turned like a screw, 

 their size was about two inches long and the same 

 in breadth ; one or two piercers ; a fine duck-billed 

 scraper ; other scrapers of various patterns ; a sling- 

 stone and a number of flakes — possibly used as arrow- 

 iheads. 



Besides these there was a quantity of cores, rough 

 chips and faulty pieces, that showed signs of having 

 been commenced, but were jDossibly discarded for a 

 better piece to work upon. 



There were also a few other objects associated with 

 the above which were of equal interest ; amongst 

 these were two or three broken shells of a species of 

 Fatclla, and a worked fragment of clay slate bearing 

 several scratched marks. 



It is impossible to conjecture what may yet be 

 found in this remarkably favoured resort of palseolithic 

 man, but it is probable, considering the richness of 

 tills one cave, that many others in the neighbourhood 

 to which the sea has access, were as much frequented, 

 and would have yielded as rich results, had not the 

 sea cleared out their floor deposits. Again, referring 

 to the flints themselves, they are evidently of that 

 early paleolithic form which shows the gradual 

 development to the more finished implement, but 

 they are not at first sight of an attractive shape. An 

 interesting fact in connection with them was the 

 discovery of a celt broken into three pieces, and 

 .although each portion was found some inches from 

 the other, but on the same level, they fitted as 

 accurately as if recently fractured. 



Of flints of the later periods, there does not appear 

 to have been any discovery as yet, but the implements 

 •of the polished type are mostly made of syenite, 

 greenstone, &c. These have been found in consider- 

 able numbers from time to time, and have either been 

 <iiscovered when removing the earth in the neigh- 

 bourhood of a tumulus or cromlech, as we shall 

 presently see ; or have, as is frequently the case, been 

 turned up by the plough. A remarkably beautiful 

 greenstone polished celt was found in a clay bank at 

 La Ilougue bie. Implements of the bronze age are 



also of by no means rare occurrence, and on one occa- 

 sion, according to the proceedings of Socicle Jeisiaise, 

 seventy-two bronze implements were found in a field 

 at St, Lawrence ; similar weapons have also been 

 discoved at Rozel, which is in another part of the 

 island. From this it would appear as if implements 

 of the several different periods were very generally 

 distributed over the island, and not rigidly confined 

 to any particular spot. 



One incident of great interest in connection with 

 this subject must be noticed. 



Some time since a human skull of remarkable type, 

 having the forehead very low and flat, was dug out 

 of Green Island, and subsequently bones were also 

 found, but we are not aware that any observations 

 were made on the latter ; we believe, however, that 

 the skull is carefully preserved. 



In the proceedings of the Socielc Jcrsiaise, above 

 alluded to, we see that the following objects [inler 

 alia) of prehistoric interest have been recorded as 

 having been found in Jersey : — 



From a tumulus, St. Brelade ; spindle-whorl, frag- 

 ments of flint, stones bearing certain marks, &c. 



From a cromlech, Beauport ; flint arrow-head, 

 fragments of pottery, stone weapons, &c. 



From various localities are also recorded a number 

 of " stonc^^ implements, for many of which no precise 

 locality is given. 



For some valuable information in connection with 

 this interesting subject, which we have only been able 

 to treat in a somewhat brief manner, we are indebted 

 to E. K. Cable, Esq., of St. Martin's, Jersey. 



(Zb be continued.) 



THE GEOLOGISTS AND THE MOON. 



COME, let me sing with scientific pride 

 What great effects befell from solar tide 

 On earth when molten ; throb succeeding throb. 

 Tore from her bosom an enormous blob. 

 Then Earth no longer rolled along forlorn, 

 For Moon, refulgent lamp of night, was born. 

 She, circling round with unrelaxing sway. 

 Knocked out of time the swaggering lamp of day, 

 And Mother Earth, when in this state of heat, 

 With throb responsive to her offspring beat. 

 But as with each increasing sweep they part, 

 Old age and distance cooled maternal heart. 

 But still it beats, as we can see full well 

 And measure in the ocean's tidal swell. 



Thus Darwin says, but others would improve : 

 Inventive ardour Ball and Fisher move. 

 This birth, great Ball alleges, left no scar ; 

 But Fisher sees more deeply, and as far, 

 And points, in proof of parturitive motion, 

 To the great rents, within which lies the ocean. 



