912 REPORT— 1887. 



2. On the Migrations of Pre- glacial Man. By Heney Hicks, M.D., F.B.S. 



Referring to the further researches carried on this summer at Cae-Gwyn Oave^ 

 North Wales, the author stated that the additional evidence obtained proved most 

 conclusively that the Hint implement found there last year in association with the 

 remains of pleistocene animals was under entirely undisturbed glacial deposits. 

 He maintained also that the evidence is equally clear in regard to the implements 

 found within the caverns, which he said must have been introduced before the 

 glacial deposits blocked up and covered over the caverns. The question as to the 

 direction from which pre-glacial man reached this country is an exceedingly interest- 

 ing one, and seems now to be fairly open to discussion. It is admittedly fraught with 

 difficulties, but the facts recently obtained seem to require that an attempt should 

 be made to unravel it. The evidence, so far as it goes, points to a migration to 

 this country from some northern source, as the human rehcs found in the caverns, 

 and also in the older river gravels (which Professor Prestwich is now disposed to 

 assign also to the early part of the glacial epoch, when the ice-sheet was advancing), 

 occur in association with the remains of animals of northern origin, such as the 

 mammoth, rhinoceros, and reindeer. Up to the present time no human relics have 

 been found in this country (and it is very doubtful whether they have been found 

 in any other part of Europe) in deposits older than those containing the remains 

 of these northern animals. If man arrived in this country from some eastern area 

 it is but natural to tliinlc that he would have arrived when the genial pliocene 

 climate tempted numerous species of deer of southern origin, and other animals 

 suitable as food for man, to roam about in the south-east of England. Hitherto, 

 however, not a relic has been found to show that man had anived in this country 

 at that time. But in the immediately succeeding period, with the advent of cold 

 conditions and of the northern animals, evidences of the presence of man become 

 abimdant. 



Whether man at an earlier period migrated northward from some tropical or 

 sub-tropical area, and that he then lived on fruit and such-like food, there is no 

 evidence at present to show ; but it seems certain that the man of the glacial period 

 in this country had to live mainly on animal food, and that he found the reindeer 

 to be the most suitable to supply his wants. He followed the reindeer in their 

 compulsory migrations during the gradually increasing glacial conditions, and kept 

 mainly with them near the edge of the advancing ice. 



3. The Early Neolithic Floor of East Lancashire. 

 By H. Collet March, M.D. 



1. The extent and relative position of the floor. 



2. The nature of the early neolithic material. 



3. The source of this material. 



4. The kinds and character of the implements. 



5. Negative evidence from the floor. 



6. Indications of antiquity. 



7. General remarks and conclusions. 



4. On recent Researches in Bench Cavern, Brixham, Devon. 

 By W. Pengellt, F.B.S. —See Section C, p. 710. 



5. Observations on recent Explorations made by General Pitt-Bivers at 

 Bushmore. By J. G. Garson, M.T)., V.P. A.Inst. 



The author began his paper by defining the early British races. The earliest 

 people of whom osteological remains are found were characterised by being of short 

 stature and having long narrow heads and feebly-developed brow-ridges. Their 



