126 



NATURE 



[November 23, 191 1 



in the adolescent blackbird and their correlation with sexual 

 maturity. He held it to be an unsafe procedure to dr-ter- 

 inine the maturity of a bird by its plumage markings ; the 

 testes should also be examined macro- and microscopically. 

 He agreed that, as a rule, there is no dilTioulty in dis- 

 tinguishing the male blackbird in its first spring plumage 

 from the adult of the corresponding time of the year, for 

 the former is usually dark brownish-block with a blackish 

 beak, and the latter jet-black with a yellow beak. But 

 Prof. Patten had specimens in which the yellow coloration 

 of the beak appeared during the first year, coupled with 

 plumage so nearly approachmg jet-black that, on general 

 inspection, the bird might pass as being fully mature, the 

 yellow beak being usually regarded as the last sign of 

 maturity. In the birds just mentioned the yellow pigment 

 was developed precociously, and its development outstripped 

 in time the assumption of the true adult plumage, which 

 would not follow until the next year. The testes were 

 5 mm. long and 26 mm. broad, while those of mature 

 birds taken at the same time (the first two weeks in March) 

 were 18 mm. and 10 mm. respectively. In the former there 

 was no sign of spermatogenesis. Prof. Patten concluded 

 that the adolescent blackbirds above described would not 

 have reached maturity until next spring, despite the fact 

 that the beaks were yellow. 



lilE LAKE VILLAGES IN THE NEIGHBOUR- 

 HOOD OF GLASTONBURY.' 

 "T^YIE second season's exploration of the Meare Lake 

 Village by the Somersetshire Archa;ological and 

 Natural History Society began on June 5, and was con- 

 tinued for three weeks under the joint supervision of 

 Messrs. A. Bulleid and H. St. George Gray. The ground 

 excavated was situated in the same part of the village, and 

 was directly continuous with last year's work. 



The digging included the examination of the remaining 

 portion of Dwelling-mound VII., the whole of Mound 

 VlII., and portions of Mounds IX., X., and XI. 



With reference to the construction of the above mounds, 

 two, i.e. Mounds VIII. and IX., had special points of 

 interest, and call for mention here. Taken as a whole, 

 however, this part of the work has been up to the present 

 time somewhat disappointing, as little additional informa- 

 tion has been gained regarding the structure generally 

 apart from that already acquired at the Glastonbury Lake 

 Village. 



Mound Vin. was of medium size, consisting of five 

 floors and situated north-east of Mound VII. No hearth 

 was discovered associated with the two uppermost floors, 

 which were separated with much difficulty throughout. 

 An interesting series of eight superimposed baked clay 

 hearths was, however, found belonging to Floors iii., 

 iv., and v., surrounded by thick layers of fire-ash. The 

 hearths varied from 2 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 3 inches in 

 diameter. 



Mound IX. was of large size, consisting, apparently, of 

 two floors, and was only partially examined. Below the 

 clay was a thick layer of black earth composed of char- 

 coal, fire-ash, and debris containing quantities of bones 

 of animals and fragments of pottery. Under the black 

 earth a well-preserved platform of timber was disclosed, 

 bordered by the remains of the wattled wall of a circular 

 dwelling. This timber was chiefly arranged in a north- 

 east and south-west direction, and by far the larger 

 number of the wall-posts were made of squared oak, a 

 feature not hitherto noticed in the dwellings previously 

 examined. 



The relics di-^-overed this season were scarcelv so 

 numerous as last year. A summary of them is appended. 



Bone. — ^The bone objects were not very numerous. The 

 most interesting specimen is a smooth pin without head, 

 having a long recess, or notch, along the middle of the 

 shaft. A similar object was found with late Celtic re- 

 mains on Ham Hill, South Somerset (Taunton Museum), 



.J ^'POJtVTes^ntfd at the Portsm.mth meeting of the nritish Association 

 (Section H) of the committee appointed to investigote the lake vill.iges in 

 the neighbourhood of Glastonbury in connection with a committee of the 

 Somersetshire Archseol ->gical and Natural History Societv. (Drawn up by 

 Messrs. Arthur Bulleid and H. St. George Gray, the directors of the 

 excavations.) 



NO. 2195, VOL. 88] 



and another on the Roman site at Iwernc, Dorset (Pitt- 

 Rivers Museum, Farnham, Dorsetj. The other specimens 

 include two tibiae of horsic (sawn and [>crforated), two 

 large polishing-bones, pins, a dress-fastener, part of • 

 drill-bow, and two objects of worked bird-bone. 



Worked Carpal and Tarsal lioncs of bhcep or Coat.—' 

 A large number of " bobbins " and other objects, showing 

 signs of considerable use, have been found, especially i 

 Mound VI I., where so many weaving appliances wtr 

 discovered. .Many of these bones are perforated ii 

 different directions ; others have transverse markings, son. 

 deeply grooved and very smooth. 



Worked Shoulder'blades of Ox and Horse. — .\t the ei 

 of last season no fewer than thirty-two of these o>-- 

 had been found, all in Mound VII. Four mor< 

 collected from the same dwelling this year, and 

 others in adjacent mounds. Two of those found 

 Mound VII. are ornamented with large examples of th 

 dot-and-circle pattern. In all instances the bones are 

 smooth, and the longitudinal spine had been cut down con- 

 siderably. Many of them are perforated at the articuKir 

 end (probably for suspension). They have been four 

 where weaving implements are abundant, but their u^ 

 remains to be explained. 



Crucibles. — Fragments of two found this year. 



Bronze. — Fifteen objects of this material were uncovered 

 this year, but no fibulae are included. There are thrf 

 finger-rings, one ornamented by a cable pattern, two rivet 

 (one of a new type), an awl, three thin moulded boss* 

 part of a belt-fastener, and a large part of the borderin: 

 of a perishable scabbard, including the bulbous chap 

 Perhaps the most interesting remains of bronze is a pair 

 of pins with disc-shaped heads and arched stems. 



Flint. — In addition to a number of flakes, a scraper and 

 two or three finely worked knives have been found. 



Glass and other Beads. — The beads are numerous and 

 varied. Nine were found last season ; eighteen specimens 

 this year. The collection includes two polished bone ring- 

 beads. Six of the beads are of a yellow opaque glass and 

 two pale blue (also opaque). One of the finest specimer 

 is a ring-bead of clear sea-green glass, and two are dar' 

 blue. .\ small blue bead is ornamented round the sid' 

 by a continuous wave pattern ; two globular beads < 

 clear white glass are ornamented in yellow, one by 

 spiral device, the other by a herring-bone pattern. Tl 

 smallest bead is little more than one-eighth of an inch ;: 

 diameter. 



Antler. — The numbered objects of this material hav 

 now reached the total of seventy-three, twenty-four bein; 

 found this season, including three antlers of roe-deer, or. 

 bearing knife-cuts, another being shaped as a knife-handl. 

 Nothing of exceptional interest has been found this seasor 

 many being pieces of cut antler impossible to name. Th 

 two hammers found have not been perforated for fittir. 

 handles. Several examples of the so-called " cheek 

 pieces," perhaps used in connection with the bridles an 

 bits of horses, have been found ; but the precise use < 

 many of these objects is very doubtful, and their shaping 

 and perforating vary very considerably. 



Weaving-combs of Antler. — Again we have a fine series 

 bringing the former number of twenty -one up to a totr. 

 of thirty-five. Mound VII.. which must have been : 

 weaving establishment, contributes no fewer than twentv 

 nine of the number. No dwelling in the Glastonbur 

 Lake Village produced more than nine of these comb- 

 One example is dentated at both ends with twelve an ' 

 thirteen teeth respectively. The largest, having ten teeth 

 is 7J inches long. Several of them are ornamented witi 

 transverse and oblique lines, and one, at least, with dot 

 and circles. 



Iron. — The objects of iron are mostly fragmentar>-, an<' 

 much corroded, as usual. The " finds " include a chisel 

 knife, file, and an awl in its handle of antler : also ar 

 earth-anvil. The latter was found on the top floor of r 

 mound, and only a foot deep below the flood-soil, throufjl 

 which, owing to its weight, it may probably have sunk 

 subsequently to the occupation of the village. 



Kimmertdge Shale. — Objects of this material have this 

 season been increased from twelve to twent>--one. and they 

 are more numerous than in the neighbouring village of 

 Glastonbury. These objects are parts of lathe-turned arm- 



