420 
That the writers on the Boetian contractions could have 
accomplished the solution of intricate fractional questions 
(entirely dependent on the principle of local position) without 
the knowledge of the zero, or some arbitrary character to 
express its situation, appears to me to be quite impossible. 
Above all, it must be remembered that the abacus was not 
employed with the Alabaldine notation. 
A paper was read by William R. Wilde, Esq., on the 
animal remains and antiquities recently found at Dunshaugh- 
lin, in the county of Meath. 
Surgeon Wilde prefaced his observations by stating, 
that the communication which he was about to make, on 
the subject of the vast collection of bones which were recently 
discovered in the county of Meath, was but introductory 
to a more detailed description of their zoological and anato- 
mical characters which he purposed bringing before the 
Academy at a future meeting. But, having had several 
opportunities of visiting the spot where these remains were 
found, and having collected some information upon the 
subject from the persons who superintended, and others who 
were actually engaged in making the excavations, he felt it 
necessary to lay before the Academy a popular description 
of the place,—in order to show under what circumstances 
these bones were found, and to enable the members pre- 
sent to form some idea as to the nature of this very re- 
markable collection. In addition to this statement of facts, 
he would likewise exhibit several of the antiquities found 
in connexion with the animal remains, in the hope that the 
antiquary and the historian might, from their examination, 
be enabled to arrive at some probable conclusion as to the 
date of the construction of this place. 
The following is an extract of Mr. Wilde’s statement : 
“« About a mile to the east of the village of Dunshaughlin, 
