70 DTJBLTN NATTJEAL HISTOET SOCIETY. 



ter time, after heavy rains, the greater portion of the bog is covered with water. 

 A slight eminence, crowned by a solitary tree, is still called "the island ;" and 

 it was about this spot that the animal remains, amounting to so many hundreds of 

 cart-loads, were found. The bones were those of cows, deer, swine, sheep, horses, 

 and, I believe, of hogs. Several human skulls and other bones were also observed, 

 bearing testimony to the struggles which the annals inform us took place round 

 the island of Lough Gabor. Intermixed with the bones were found an immense 

 quantity of antiquities, consisting of spear-heads, swords, knives, brooches, 

 combs, &c. ; and these articles, so highly interesting to the antiquary, are 

 scarcely less so to the naturalist, as by an examination of their form and style 

 of ornamentation some conclusion may be arrived at as to the date of the depo- 

 sit. From the fact of the frontal bone in most of the skulls which had belonged 

 to the lower animals having been fractured, apparently by the blow of a hatchet, 

 many of which instruments were found among the debris, there can be but little 

 doubt that the creatures to which they had belonged had been killed as food by 

 the occupants of '* the island." How much, then, is it to be regretted that no 

 tolerable collection of these very interesting remains is known to exist. By a 

 careful collection and examination of such subjects much light might be thrown 

 on the history, and even pedigree, of existing species. Surgeon Wilde, indeed, 

 to whom is due the credit of having first mentioned the Dunshaughlin discovery, 

 about twelve years ago, has fortunately preserved many interesting specimens, 

 but his collection is far from complete. And when we recollect that since that 

 period at least two similar bone heaps have been found — one in the lake ofBal- 

 linderry, near Moate, the other at Strokestown, county of Roscommon, we can- 

 not help fearing that many subjects of great interest to the Irish naturalist 

 have been lost. I may add that, judging from the character of the antiquities 

 found under the same circumstances in each of the three localities, the animals 

 of which the horns had formed a portion could not have existed later than the 

 ninth or tenth century. In each of the localities referred to, antlers of the red 

 deer, similar to those before the Society, were found in considerable numbers. 



FEBRUARY 7, 1855. 



Mr. Andrews read a communication from Mr. Trouton, of Drogheda, with 

 reference to a skull and very fine antlers of the red deer, which were exhibited 

 before the meeting. Mr. Trouton observes : — " I beg to say that they were dis- 

 covered in August last by some fishermen whilst drawing their salmon net across 

 the river — the River Boyne ; the net having become fast in one of the horns, it 

 was with some difficulty they raised them from where they were embedded in 

 the centre of the river, but, using great care, they were enabled to take them up 

 in the very perfect state in which they appear. Although they have been taken 

 from the now present bed of the river, I have to remark that within the last few 

 years the river has been deepened by excavation about four feet, so that until 

 lately the horns were deposited in a stratum four or five feet below the water. 

 This, I think, will fix a very early date for their original deposit. The dark co- 

 lour of the skull and horns will, I think, bear out this idea." 



The horns were those of the red deer, and were perfect and of full growth. 



Several of the Members said that such specimens were by no means uncom- 

 mon in the country, and that they were frequently met in parts of the Boyne. 



Mr. R. Callwell remarked that he had seen and obtained very fine horns of 

 the red deer, in a perfect state, found between Moate and Athlone. 



