Proceedings. xv 



reflection is thus forced upon one, how much of interest and 

 real scientific importance lies at our very doors, only waiting 

 investigation and observation (Trans., art. 49). I was enabled 

 on this occasion to further illustrate the subject of the paper 

 by exhibiting a number of skulls and a very fine series of 

 ornaments and implements, found by my relative, the late 

 Mr. G. S. Gibson,- of Saffron Walden, in an almost identical 

 burying-place in his garden there. The interments there, as at 

 Purley, were all in shallow trenches or graves scooped out of the 

 chalk, which lies in both cases a foot or two below the surface. 

 They were at Saffron Walden very numerous, as many as thirty 

 to forty skeletons being exposed in situ at one time, photographs 

 of which I exhibited. These remains at Saffron Walden are 

 attributed by some antiquaries to the earliest Christian Saxon 

 period. Dr. Carpenter is inclined, I believe, to ascribe an earlier 

 date to the Purley remains ; but whichever view may be correct, 

 I think there can be little or no doubt that the two cemeteries 

 were cotemporary. 



In addition to those bearing specially upon the paper, the 

 exhibits at this meeting were numerous and interesting. 

 Amongst others I would especially refer to the specimens of a 

 new Bi'itish crustacean, Sysmata seticaudata, from Jersey, and to 

 the fine series of prehistoric flints from Ireland, Yorkshire, and 

 Eastbourne ; all shown by Mr. E. Lovett. 



At the second meeting, March 11th, the paper was by Mr. E. 

 Lovett, " On the History and Evolution of the Fish-hook from 

 the earliest Prehistoric to Modern Times" (Trans., art. 50). 

 In this most interesting paper, Mr. Lovett showed that many 

 rude flint and stone implements which have puzzled archaeologists 

 were used as fish-gorges and fish-hooks. His paper was illus- 

 trated by an admirable series of these early remains, chiefly 

 from Jersey caves, opened and explored by himself; an equally 

 fine set of similar implements used in more recent times by 

 savage races; and further examples showing the gradual im- 

 provement and development of fish-catching implements, down 

 to the elaborate and highly-finished salmon-hooks of our own 

 day. 



The Eev. George Bailey added a few remarks on an interesting 

 series of similar flint fish-gorges, which he exhibited, from the 

 Yorkshire wolds. 



Dr. Franklin Parsons also exhibited and described a series of 

 fossils collected by himself from the Devonian and Carboniferous 

 strata of Somerset, Devon, and Wilts, amongst which were fine 

 specimens from the latter strata at Frome, Somerset, of a 

 crinoid [Platycrinus], with the stems, bodies, and feathery arms 

 well preserved ; another crinoid (Apiocrirms roUivdm), found 

 plentifully in the Lower Oolite at Bradford-on-Avon, at the 



