XXxiv. THE SECOND WINTER MEETING. 



open." On this new theory I wish to make only two simple remarks, not being 

 competent to discuss the intricacies of Celtic derivations. According to my 

 informant, Durnovaria is a true Celtic name, not a Eoman rendering of a previous 

 Celtic name ; and yet the Celtic inhabitants must have originated the name 

 after the Eomans occupied the country, after they were sufficiently sure of their 

 hold to build an amphitheatre and indulge in " fist-sports." There is, therefore, 

 this important point to be kept in mind by those who investigate the meaning of 

 " Durnovaria." When first was the name given? If there is any trace of the 

 name prior to the permanent settlement of the Eomans, the native race cannot 

 have made use of a word derived from the games witnessed in the amphitheatre. 

 When the late Mr. Barnes read a paper to the Archaeological Institute at Dor 

 Chester in 1865 on " Ancient Dorset " he used these words : " The Eomans in 

 their itineraries and other writings on Britain took the names of places and men 

 from British lips and then moulded them into a Latin shape so as to fit them to 

 their language and utterance." He then shows how Durnovaria was " moulded ' ' 

 from Durn, or Duriii Wyr, i.e., the Durin people or district Durn, meaning 

 water, or little water. For the present, at any rate, I shall be content to take 

 my stand under the banner of our Dorset Poet. 



Captain ELWES, in the course of a short discussion on the 

 subject, observed that the Celtic races had no notion of games 

 until they learnt them from the Romans, so much so that their 

 name for games was "campi," from " Campus Martius." The 

 PRESIDENT said he gathered that the club had not been given 

 sufficient reason to change their ancient belief as to the meaning 

 of the words "Durnovaria" and " Durotriges." 



(iv.) "The Life History of a Scarce Moth, Ophiodes lunaris, 

 by Dr. G. J. Crallan. (Printed.) 



(v.) " British Arachnida," by the Rev. O. Pickard-Cambridge. 

 (Printed.) 



The meeting then closed. 



