53 



toes each. Dr. Hume, by measuring, found the length of 

 each impression to be about 34- inches, -while the distance 

 between any consecutive two was ten inches. The real 

 interest and importance of this fact can only be appre- 

 ciated by geologists. The positive existence of birds there, 

 identified the strata with a condition of animal organization 

 and existence of a higher character than had been previously 

 supposed, and brought it under a new set of circumstances. 

 Since that time the stone had been removed, or the 

 impressions entirely obliterated; and other members who 

 had gone, on hearing of its discovery, were unable to 

 trace it. 



A regret was expressed that a stone of so much geological 

 value had not been secured ; and some scepticism as to the 

 reality of the marks was expressed. 



THE SECOND PAPEH WAS : 



" AN ACCOUNT OF THE ANTIQUITIES FOUND AT HOYLAKE.' 

 By Dr. I/vme. 



I. MODE IN WHICH THE ARTICLES WERE PROCURED. 



In the spring of 1846, I happened to be in the parsonage 

 of Hoylake, and observing on the chimney-piece some 

 articles of great curiosity, and of evident antiquity, I 

 borrowed them for the purpose of exhibiting them at the 

 Literary and Philosophical Society of Liverpool. I was 

 informed that these were but a small portion of what had 

 been procured by a poor man in the village, who occasionally 

 amused himself by picking them up on the sea shore. It 

 was supposed that he acted partly from an undefined feeling 

 of curiosity, and partly with the intention of bestowdng 

 the articles as toys. 



A few weeks after this, the interest of the curious was 

 again excited by an ancient skull, which Dr. Carson had 

 found near the same spot; and, continuing his researches, 

 he procured other bones, and a leaden instrument resembling 

 a weight. All of these bore strong marks of antiquity. 



It then appeared that the matter was deserving of a 

 thorough investigation, and a number of gentlemen pro- 

 ceeded to the spot ; but the state of the weather, and other 

 causes, prevented them from adding any new fact to 

 those previously known. The entire stock of the original 

 collector was procured, however, and it, together with the 

 articles previously shown, and a few obtained subsequently, 

 constitutes the whole of those that are described here. 



