296 Royal Society : — 



reason, from the general physical phenomena, to question whether 

 the beds of St. Acheul and Moulin Quignon may not possibly be 

 of an age one stage older than those of Menchecourt and St. Roch ; 

 but before that point can be determined, a more extended knowledge 

 of all the organic remains of the several deposits is indispensable. 



The author next proceeds to inquire into the causes which led 

 to the rejection of this and the cases before mentioned, and shows 

 that in the case of M. de Perthes' discovery, it was in a great degree 

 the small size and indifferent execution of the figures and the 

 introduction of many forms about which there might reasonably 

 be a difference of opinion ; — in the case of the arrow-heads in Kent's 

 Cave a hidden error was merely suspected ; — and in the case of 

 the Liege cavern he considers that the question was discussed on 

 a false issue. He therefore is of opinion that these and many similar 

 cases require reconsideration ; and that not only may some of these 

 prove true, but that many others, kept back by doubt or supposed 

 error, will be forthcoming. 



One very remarkable instance has already been brought under the 

 author's notice by Mr. Evans since their return from France. In 

 the 13th volume of the 'Archseologia,' published in 1800, is a paper 

 by Mr. John Frere, F.R.S. and F.S.A., entitled " An Account of 

 Flint- Weapons discovered at Hoxne in Suffolk," wherein that gentle- 

 man gives a section of a brick-pit in which numerous flint-imple- 

 ments had been found, at a depth of 1 1 feet, in a bed of gravel con- 

 taining bones of some unknown animal ; and concludes from the 

 ground being undisturbed and above the valley, that the specimens 

 must be of very great antiquity, and anterior to the last changes of 

 the surface of the country, — a very remarkable announcement, 

 hitherto overlooked. 



The author at once proceeded in search of this interesting locality, 

 and found a section now exposed to consist of — 



feet. 



1. Earth and a few flints 2 



2. Brown brick-earth, a carbonaceous seam in middle and one of 



gravel at base ; no organic remains. The workmen stated that 

 two flint-implements (one of which they shortly picked up in 

 the author's presence) had been found about 10 feet from the 



surface during the last winter 12 



.3. Grey clay, in places carbonaceous and in others sandy, with recent 

 land and freshwater shells {Planorbis, Valvata, Succinea, Pisi- 

 dium, Helix, and Ci/clas) and bones of Manmialia 4 



4. Small subangular flint-gravel and chalk pebbles 2J 



5. Carbonaceous clay (stopped by water) ^-1- 



The weapons referred to by Mr. Frere are described by him as 

 being found abundantly in bed No. 4 ; but at the spot where the 

 work has now arrived, this bed is much thinner, and is not worked. 

 In the small trench which the author caused to be dug, he found 

 no remains either of weapons or of bones. He saw, however, in the 

 collection of Mr. T. E. Amyot, of Diss, specimens of the weapons, 

 also an astragalus of the elephant from, it was supposed, this bed, 

 and, from bed No. 3, the teeth of a horse, closely resembling those 

 from the elephant-bed of Brighton. 



