BY R. ETHERIDGE, JUN. 291 



operation,"* and Sir John Lubbockf the "incredible ceremonial," 

 it is diflficult to say, but I am inclined to think they may have 

 been used for other pui'poses. 



The note accompanying the specimens simply states that they 

 are " instruments for splitting the urethra." 



A very interesting figure is given by Sir John Lubbock of an 

 " Australian Flake," f but I take it to be a knife, from the 

 appearance of its base, which even in the drawing shows traces 

 of the gum used to hold it, and closely corresponds with one of 

 those now before me. A similar knife is figured by Mr. R. B. 

 Smyth, from the Paroo, but in place of any wooden handle the 

 base is wrapt round with opossum fur.§ 



iii. — All abnormal form of Tomahatvk from Port Stephens. 

 (Plate XIII., figs. 11-12.) 



I am again indebted to Mr. Orummer for this interesting- 

 weapon from Swan Bay, Port Stephens. Its abnormal form is at 

 once apparent, indeed T have never seen an aboriginal stone 

 weapon figured like it, but in a grave examined by T. W. Edge- 

 worth David and myself, we found an implement of a some- 

 what similar nature, and like it formed of a hard sandy shale. 



The general form of this weapon is that of an elongated 

 parallelogram, the longer sides quite parallel, and one end 

 ground to a small cutting edge on both faces. It is nine 

 and a quarter inches long, two and a half inches wide, only 

 three-eighths of an inch in thickness, and its weight is eight 

 ounces. If its conjectured use as a tomahawk be correct, it was 

 probably held directly in the hand, without the intervention of a 

 handle, although it must be confessed there is no trace of hollows 



» 4t 1 



■ The Australian Race," 1886, I. p. 74. In my former paper I omitted 

 to mention that Mr. Curr has figured a rude example of one of these knives 

 with its handle and sheath. {Loc. cit. pi. opp. p. 148.) 



t " Pre-Historic Tunes," 4th edition, 1878, p. 460. 



+ "Pre-Historic Times," 4th edit., 1878, p. 92, f, 93. 



§ "Aborigines of Victoria," 1878, I. p. 380, f. 201. 



