294 THE EEY. J. MAGENS MELLO, M.A., F.G.S.^ ETC., ON 



tinguisL. from those of the short-horn. It is thus not unlikely 

 that the supposed evidence of the Neolithic people having come 

 from other quarters and brought these short-horned animals with, 

 them may break down. I should not like to say tliat any of these 

 matters are settled, or that those who advocate local evolution are 

 right. I merely mention some of these points to show that there 

 is still a good deal of doubt on many matters that has to be cleared 

 up. I think Mr. Mello has done very great service to those who 

 investigate these subjects, by placing before this Society such an 

 impartial and admirable resume of what is known. (Applause.) 



Rev. F. H. Woods, B.D. — Any remarks I may make on this 

 most interesting paper are rather with a view to information than 

 criticism 



1 . With refei-ence to the supposed gap between the Palaeolithic 

 and Neolithic culture and therefore race distinction, Montelius, 

 a ►Swedish writer, shows, I think, very clearly that the " Kitchen- 

 middens " must either be regarded as intermediate or as belonging 

 to the Palaeolithic age. Excepting the domestication of the dog, 

 and the use of fish-hooks, and probably fishing boats (for there 

 are remains of deep-sea fish) their state of culture agrees with 

 Palaeolithic man and differs from Neolithic man, who had all the 

 important animals of the present day and practised agriculture. 

 Again, the difference in the tools between the people of the 

 " Kitchen-middens " and of the Dolmens is as marked as possible. 

 The tools of the first were extremely rude; the latter showed the 

 greatest delicacy of workmanship. If, therefore, we are to divide 

 off sharply the two main divisions of the Stone age, we must put 

 the dividing line between the people of the " Kitchen-middens " 

 and the " Dolmens." 



2. With reference to tlie religion of the Neolithic people, 

 Montelius lays great, stress on the '• cup-shaped hollows," main- 

 taining that they were certainly used for offerings either "to 

 or for " the dead, and says that some of those in Sweden also 

 are still used for offerings by the superstitious. As to the sitting 

 postui'e, I should be inclined my.t^elf to suppose that was adapted 

 as the most comfortable posture for the departed in a future state. 

 Montelius suggests that the earthenware pots now only filled with 

 earth, contained food for the use of the departed in another 

 wo:4d. 



8. As to the races of the Neolithic peoples. Montelius observes 

 that in Sweden the dolichocephalic race very largely predominated 



