106 



One other circumstance, which may be connected with the two periods 

 mentioned, must not here bo omitted. The meadow adjacent to the island is 

 alluvial, but at the level of the water, and for some depth below, are the 

 remains of a quantity of timber, apparently in aitA. One upright stem, with 

 roots, was found under water, between the island and the shore, a short dis- 

 tance from the latter. This, in the writer's view, nmst have grown here prior 

 to the overflow of the water which submerged the meadows about Talyllyn 

 church. When this took place the trees died, decayed, and fell where they now 

 are, and were gradually covered up by earthy materials brought down into the 

 lake during the winter floods. It is remarkable that the shell marl was not 

 found at this spot, though it again reappears at a short distance. It is not un- 

 likely that the outflow of the Llynvi brook may formerly have been at this 

 spot. 



In conclusion, the writer ventures to hope that this recital of his expe- 

 rience and ideas in regard to this mysterious island has not been without 

 interest, and should it occur to any that farther investigation might produce 

 better results, he begs to assure them that he considers his own researches 

 anything but exhaustive, and that very much of both geological and historical 

 interest still remains to be discovered and explained (applause). 



The Rev. C. J. ROBINSON asked why, considering the shallowness of the 

 narrow strip of water which separated the island from the mainland, it may 

 not at one time have been joined to the land, and perhaps separated from it arti- 

 ficially as a means of defence. 



Dr. M'CULLOUGH, in reply to this, said that not only was the island sur- 

 rounded by a deep deposit of shell marl, but so far as had been examined 

 the shell marl extended beneath the island itself and formed its base. Now 

 this shell marl is a recent deposit formed of the shells of fresh water mol- 

 luscs, and it is needless to say that since its deposition no geological disturbance 

 can have occurred sufficient to place the stones which they saw around them 

 on the top of this, geologically speaking, very recent deposit. Doubtless, 

 therefore, these stones were brought there by human agency. 



Mr. Lee asked permission to say a few words on the paper which had 

 been read. His first remark was that members were exceedingly obliged to Mr. 

 Dumbleton for the clear and straightforward statement of facts which they had 

 just heard: the paper evidently contained all the information which was yet 

 known as to the place. But he wished, secondly, to caution the members as 

 to considering a Crannoge like this to be at all of the remote or unknown age 

 which was claimed for the Lake dwellings of Switzerland ; and he brought for- 

 ward this caution more especially, as some antiquaries of note were disposed 

 to doubt the very existenco of a Crannoge in this place ; but he must add that 



