6o NATURAL SCIENCE. April. 



and worked from one side only, at others they are nearly whole flints 

 picked up promiscuously, the working appearing always on the 

 opposite side to a good hand grip. There are no oval hammer-stones 

 such as were used in Palaeolithic times, and consequently bulbs of 

 percussion on flakes are very rare. Frequently the flints are striated 

 exactly like some of those in the glacial beds of East Anglia. From 

 these rude used flints numerous groups of implements diverge towards 

 the well-known types of the Palaeolithic and Neolithic ages. Just as 

 our palaeontologists saw the progenitors of our present ungulates in 

 very dissimilar Eocene forms before the connecting links were 

 discovered, so Harrison saw in his early finds the prototypes of later 

 implements. For years he sought to make his finds known to the 

 scientific world, but his converts were few. However, as time went 

 by, spurred on by his own assurance and the incredulity of others, 

 he increased his collection amazingly. He also distinguished groups 

 of different forms, some of which were most curious. Form, how- 

 ever, was nothing to Plateau man ; two objects alone presented 

 themselves to his intelligence, a hand-grip, and a usable edge. Nor 

 was he as yet the victim of one-handedness, left-handed forms being 

 almost or quite as numerous as right. In all his early workings he 

 worked from one side of the flint, which he did sometimes with one 

 hand and sometimes with the other, as is evinced by the reversed 

 workings. 



While collecting this material Harrison was brought into contact 

 with many well-known scientific men. On one occasion he was 

 introduced to a celebrated archaeologist bearing a name classic in 

 geology, who, as Harrison began to speak of Palaeolithic man, blurted 

 out in his characteristic way, " Of no interest; prove nothing; in fact 

 prehistoric archaeology is played out ; my old friend Boucher de 

 Perthes proved all that could be proved." Rather disheartening this, 

 but perhaps better than the action of another set of critics, who, while 

 admitting some of the better finished weapons when shown separately, 

 assumed a position of open hostility to the subject both in season and 

 out of season. Among the various scientists who encouraged him 

 mention might be made of Messrs. Montgomery Bell, F. C. J. Spurrell,, 

 and Grant Allen, Dr. A. R. Wallace, and Dr. James Geikie. 



In the meantime Harrison had been continually in touch with 

 Professor Prestwich for several years ; and as soon as the Professor's- 

 leisure would allow he traversed the whole or principal parts of the 

 scene of Harrison's discoveries under his guidance, and from time to 

 time studied these new evidences of a greater antiquity of man. To 

 those who know Professor Prestwich's conservative tendencies and his 

 predisposition to close in the period during which man has been on 

 earth, it will at once be clear how strong must have been the evidence 

 for him to turn round and become the champion of the cause. We 

 well remember the eventful evenings at the Geological Society and 

 the Anthropological Institute on the occasions of the reading of the 



