116 REVIEW MANUFACTURE OF GUN-FLINTS. 



flint-workers, and Mr. Skertchly believes that the manufacture of flint 

 has been carried on continuously in this district sinca that period. 



When the flint has been raised to the surface it is broken up into 

 pieces of a convenient size by means of a "quartering hammer;" from 

 these masses long narrow double-backed flakes are struck with another 

 ■'flaking" hammer. The lump remaining, from which no more flakes 

 can be struck, is termed a " core," and is used for building. From 7,000 

 to 12,000 flakes can be struck by one man in a day. 



Next the flakes have to be cut up into gun-flints ; this is called 

 knapping. The knapper sits in front of a round block of wood, into 

 which is driven a short iron " stake." Resting the flake on the stake at 

 a certain angle, he lightly strikes it with his knapping hammer, making 

 three to five flints from each flake, and about 3,00L) per day. With the 

 thoroughness which distinguishes the work of the officers of the Survey, 

 Mr. Skertchly himself donned the leather apron, and became an expert 

 " flaker" and "knapper," so that we may fairly admit his claim (see 

 preface) " to have produced a work as free as possible from all errors of 

 description." His remarks on the fracture of flint, and on the impossi- 

 bility of the argument that the Palaeolithic flint implements might have 

 been produced by natural means, are both original and conclusive. 

 Finally, Mr. Skertchly gives us a glimpse into the nature of the important 

 evidence which he has obtained, proving the pre-glacial existence of man. 

 In beds of loam, sand, and gravel (Brandon Beds he terms them) which 

 clearly underlie the Great Chalky Boulder Clay at Botany Bay, near 

 Brandon, at Mildenhall Brickyard, High Lolge, Mildenhall, Bury St. 

 Edmunds, West Stow, and Culford, Mr. Skertchly has found many 

 flint implements which are clear proof of the existence of the human 

 race in this district before the maximum period of cold. Professor 

 Ramsay has examined the evidence, and writes: '• That man lived in 

 this district in inter-glacial times I have no doubt, and I also believe it to 

 be most probable that he even inhabited our region in pre-glacial times, 

 and, perhaps, never fairly left it, but only retired south during the general 

 increase of cold and the gradual advance of the glaciers, and still 

 survived in what is now the south of England." This should lend a new 

 interest to the work which our Union has taken up— the examination of 

 the drift deposits of the Midlands. 



W. J. H. 



Correspairbcnxc. 



— -♦ 



Skeleton Leaves. — Information as to the best means of preparing 

 and bleaching skeleton leaves will much oblige. — J. W. Bodgek, Peter- 

 borough. 



Hen's Ego. — This morning I had the opportunity of examining an 

 egg, laid by a Spangled Hamburg hen, measuring an inch long and three- 

 quarters in diameter. — H. Stone, Handsworth. 



