Mar. 14, 1872] 



NATURE 



387 



ceptional types. Dolmens are sometimes covered by a now stand free ; but it seems impossible to believe that 

 mound of earth (like the Gib Hill example, excavated by | the bulk of those we now see were ever hidden by any 

 Mr. Bateman), sometimes free, as in the preceding figures, earthen covering." 



That all the earlier ones were covered, says I\lr. Fer- \ The tumuli which contain megalithic chambers closely 

 gusson, " is more than probable, and it may since have { resemble the dwellings even now used by many northern 

 been originally intended to cover up many of those which nations, the Siberian Yurt, for instance, consists "fa central 



chamber, generally sunk a little below the surface, built was of an oval form, about twenty feet long and twelve 



of stones or timber, and heaped over with earth, so as to or more high. The framing was composed of wood and 



form a mound. The Tchutski huts are very similar. \ the ribs of whales, disposed in a judicious manner, and 



" They are," says Captain Cook, "sunk a little below the ' bound together with smaller materials of the same sort, 



surface of the earth. One of them which 1 examined Over this framing is laid a covering of strong coarse 



grass, and that, again, is covered with earth, so that, on 

 the outside, the house looks like a hillock supported by a 

 wall of stone three or four feet high, which is built round 

 the two sides and one end." 



The huts of the Esquimaux and Lapps are built on the 

 same model, and have generally a longer or shorter 



ol Granjmoiit. 



covered pis-iage leading to the door, the object of which 

 is to keep the cold out of the central chamber. Round 

 the walls of the latter are ranged seats for the inmates 

 and part of the space is often separated off by parti- 

 tions. So closely do many of our Northern tumuli corre- 

 spond to these descriptions, that Nilsson long ago 



