BY R. ETHERIDGE, JUN. 375 



Before concluding this part of the subject, I wish to draw 

 attention to a portion of a tomahawk, which is with difficulty 

 referred to its proper place in the series. It forms one of Sir 

 Wm. Macleay's Collection, and is from N. S. Wales. Originally 

 a flattened pebble, it has been further reduced by rubbing, and is 

 unflaked. The interest, however, centres itself in the sharp point 

 the anterior end has been brought to, an unusually pointed end 

 and acute cutting edge for an Australian tomahawk. The finish 

 of the tool is excellent, although the scratches still remain caused 

 by the lateral reduction it has undergone. These are all in one 

 direction. It is composed of a dark green chloritic greywacke, 

 showing faint schistose structure. The rock has probably been 

 derived from the alteration of a mudstone. 



It may not be out of place to point out in conclusion a few 

 facts deducible from the study of Australian stone tomahawks 

 in relation to what may be termed their physical structure, 

 derived from the observations of Smyth, * Cox,f MacPherson,| 

 Knight,§ Anderson,|| other minor observers, and my own investi- 

 gations. 



Except on the broad lines laid down in the present communica- 

 tion there is no uniformity in size or shape, but whether toma- 

 hawks or axes, they are usually longer than broad, the exception 

 being our third type of Section a, Group i. 



There appear to have been three well marked methods of 

 preparation : — (1) Shaped by directed blows only; (2) The same 

 accompanied by the polishing of the cutting edge ; (3) Selected 

 pebbles, polished at the cutting edge, but not shaped or flaked. 



As a rule, stones flattened laterally were selected, and following 

 this conception, the choice seems to have been given to water-worn 

 pebbles. 



* Aborigines of Victoria, 187S, I., pp. liv. and 365. 



+ Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, 1875, I., p. 21. 



t Journ. R. Soc. N. S. Wales for 1885 [1886J, xix., p. 113. 



§ Report Smithsonian Institution for 1879 [1880], p 213. 



|| Records Geol. Survey N. S. Wales, 1890, ii., Pt. 2, pp. 73-81. 



