PEIMITIVE MAN : II. NEOLITHIC MAN. 295 



and thinks that the brachycephalic skulls belong to the Lapps 

 who were gradually driven north, but continued even in the 

 south of Sweden for a long period, even after the close of the 

 Neolithic age. 



4. I think there is an error on p. 273. I cannot lay my hand on 

 Axel Blyth's able essay on the migrations of Flora founded upon 

 his study of the peat-bogs (of Denmark ?), but I am morally 

 certain that Mr. Mello is wrong in classing the birch with the 

 beech. In latitude the birch occupies an intermediate position 

 between the mountain willows and the Scotch fir, and its belt is 

 far above that of the oak, e.g., the most northerly beech tree in 

 Eui-ope grows at a point in Alvesta a few miles north of the 

 southern extremity of the Vetter Lake in Sweden. The oak grows 

 in a stunted form on lhe Hardanger Fjord in ISTorway, where I 

 have seen it frequently. The birch certainly grows abundantly 

 about Trondjhem, and, if I remember right, much further north. 

 I am almost certain that I have seen it within the Arctic circle. 

 A few birch trees occur in Iceland, some near the northern 

 extremity. 



The President. — If no one else desires to speak I will call upon 

 the author to reply. 



The Author. — Before making my reply I must thank you for 

 tbe extremely kind way in which my paper has been received. I 

 regret that it has not been more criticised and that some discussion 

 did not take place as to these contradictory races, which I must say 

 are an extreme puzzle to myself, and I was not at all sure as to 

 how T was to enter on this question of skulls and races, and upon 

 which there are still such various opinions. 



As to what has been said to-night, I am afraid there is not much 

 that I can add. I might mention, in regard to the question 

 that was asked as to the different shapes of the axes of the two 

 periods, it has generally been considered that the Palteolithic axe, 

 as one of the speakers said, has what I may call its business end at 

 the point, but taking this Neolithic one, it has been said that the 

 broad cutting end is characteristic of the Neolithic, whereas with 

 the PalEeolithic axe this broad end of the axe would be left in the 

 rough, and the axe would be held in the hand in PaliBolithic times, 

 or it might be inserted in a holder and the sharp point used. 

 With the Neolithic axe the narrow end would be inserted in a haft 

 and the broad end used, but amongst the Spiennes implements 

 there seems to be what might be thought to be a transition form, 



