THE ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING. xlvii. 



accepted as to their use ; but they are considered to belong to the 

 Neolithic or Early Bronze period. They should be looked for in 

 sandy or gravelly soil. 



The next acquisition to which I may refer is of a very different 

 character, viz : a fine example of the well-known fossil trees from the 

 Purbeck " dirt-beds " of Portland. It is not only a complete stem, or 

 trunk with a root, but has a bifurcation at the top, with a portion of 

 the two branches, and it is this feature that adds so greatly to its value. 

 The total height, as now fixed in the Museum, is 19ft. Gin. It was found 

 about 1820-25 in Mr. White's quarries on Portland, was removed in 

 sections, and reconstructed against the side of his house, exactly as 

 it lay w r hen first uncovered. It remained there a familiar object to 

 passers-by until March of this year, when the property changed hands 

 and the house was taken down. The tree is given to the Museum by 

 Mr. White's grand-daughter, Mrs. King Warry, who is anxious that it 

 should be preserved in her own county in memory of those of her 

 family who (in the past) attached great value to it. I need hardly 

 add that it finds here a fitting and honoured resting place. 



Our collection of coins has been added to by a small Roman piece 

 of Julian, A.D., 363, found in Dorchester ; a denarius of Constantino 

 II, A.D., 340, given by Mr. Dunn, of Crewkerne, and Dorset 

 XVII century trade tokens, given by Mr. Henry Symonds and others. 



Passing now to acquisitions of more recent date, I must mention 

 the " puzzle mug " which was exhibited at the Field Club meeting on 

 16th February last. This mug stands Tin. high, and is 7fin. wide at 

 the upper rim. It is composed of thin brown ware, glazed and mottled, 

 and is probably a specimen of peasant pottery, commonly made 

 in the XVIII century and down to a comparatively recent date at 

 several places in the south-west of England. It had originally 6 

 handles, of which 4 remain, and the short upright spout is still intact. 

 The latter projects 1 in. above the rim and communicates with the 

 bottom of the mug, from which the liquor could be sucked. There 

 appears to have been a second spout on the opposite side which did 

 not communicate with the interior of the vessel. It is therefore very 

 probable that this is a " puzzle mug " intended to cause amusement 

 when used by a novice. The museum acquired the mug through the 

 kindness of Mr. O. G. Dunn, of Crewkerne, and the late owner states 

 that it was for many years in a farmhouse near Farnham, Dorset. 



A constable's staff marked " G.R." (Georgius Rex), " Funtmell 

 Magna," has been given by Mr. Dunn ; and a Watchman's or 

 Coastguard's rattle by Miss Gould, of Broadwey. Mr. Oglander Lees 

 has presented the sword of the late Sir H. Oglander, Bart., of Nunwell, 

 Isle of Wight, and Parnham, Dorset, which he used when in the 

 Dorset Yeomanry circa 1835. 



