90 Chronicles of Science. [Jan., 



Nearly in the centre of the interior space is the entrance 

 (though probably not the original one j to the crypt, of which every 

 Eath possesses one or more. This crypt appears to have been ori- 

 ginally of a quadrangular form. Six upright slabs had been placed 

 as jambs, longitudinally, in two lines, at about two feet from the 

 sides of the chamber. Upon the tops of these, heavy slabs of un- 

 hewn stone were laid transversely, as lintels, and upon these again 

 rested other longitudinal slabs of the same kind, placed side by side, 

 the edges nearly touching, so as to form the roof. 



The chief interest of Colonel Lane Fox's paper is centred in 

 these last -mentioned slabs, for on examinmg them from beneath by 

 the light of a candle, he found that two of them which lay conti- 

 guous to one another had their edges scored with Oghams, Our 

 space will not allow us to follow the author's interesting description 

 of these marks, nor his arguments in support of the conclusion that 

 they are of greater antiquity than the huilding of ivhich the]/ formed 

 part. We shall have performed our duty as chroniclers by direct- 

 ing attention to the pamphlet, and to the fact that the slabs them- 

 selves may now be examined in the British Museum. 



Before concluding our Chronicle, we should notice the publica- 

 tion of a second edition of M, le Hon's popular work* on Fossil 

 Man. Besides the addition of the new facts which have been 

 brought to light since the first appearance of the book, consider- 

 able space is devoted in this edition to the investigation of the 

 cosmical laws which have brought about the Quaternary and Gla- 

 cial periods ; and to a resume, by Professor G. Omboni, of Darwin's 

 theory, of which he is a warm supporter. 



3. ASTKONOMY. 



{Including Proceedings of the Astronomical Society.) 



Since our last Chronicle appeared further intelligence has been re- 

 ceived respecting the operations of those who went or were sent to 

 view the great echpse of August 18 ; but we have little to add to what 

 we then wrote. We now know that the photographic operations of 

 Major Tennant's party were not so successful as the telegram first 

 received had led us to hope. The negatives arranged for were duly 

 exposed, notwithstanding the unfavourable condition of the sky, 

 Hght cirrus clouds interfering seriously with the photographic 

 energy of the sun. As might be anticipated, the negatives were 

 under-exposed. Owing also to concentration of the nitrate-of-silver 

 solution, resulting from the heat of the climate, the negatives, 



* ' L'lloiiimo Fossil lu Europe' 



