170 REPORT— 1875. 



two equal parts (fissiparous) or by budding off a small bit (gemmiparous). Epithe- 

 lial cells gi-ow so too ; and in " conjoined " epithelium we, so to say, catch the division 

 process lingering on. Many cells divide like an hour-glass ; but here the points 

 are very numerous. Protoplasm, of which cells at first consist, varies constantly 

 in form, as the amoeba, or the white-blood cell. While alive in a formative sense 

 it moves. The old outer firm wall or shell of " matter " which forms around cells, 

 and which we call cell-wall, has ceased to have this formative life, whatever 

 functional powers it has. Cells of many striking shapes are foimd in the organic 

 world — star-shaped, spindle-shaped, caudate, and so on. In the early discoveries 

 of cell-growth (soon after Schwann, 1836), innumerable mysterious vital powers 

 were attributed to cells, amongst which was that of projecting processes, long 

 wandering arms pervading intercellular tissue or other structures. As the author 

 had endeavoured to show some years ago, the form of the cell is almost invariably 

 the result of ordinary force. It is a form which the cell is forced to take, by 

 dragging out of points at which it was in the act of dividing. This idea is now 

 a familiar one, and the conjoined epithelium a good illustration. A fresh subject 

 for investigation would be ithose cases in which cells are covered with ciliary pro- 

 cesses, probably from splitting of hardened and formed outer materials. 



On Vascular Plexuses in iJie Elepliant and other Animals. 

 By L. C. MiAiL and F, Gkeenwood. 



Akthhopoiogt. 

 [For Professor Eolleston's Address see pjige 142.] 



Note on tlie Ossuary at EotJnvell, in NorthamptonsMre. 

 By John Beddoe, M.D., F.R.S. 



This is a very large ossuary in the crj^pt of a church. There is a sort of tradi- 

 tion that the bones are those of men slain in some battle; but it is unworthy of 

 notice. A few of the skulls were brought away three or four years ago by Sir 

 William Grove, and restored to their place after being measured and described by 

 Prof. Busk. Dr. Beddoe examined a different set of skulls, which he took in- 

 discriminately from the heaps, only rejecting those which were clearly feminine. 

 The average leng-tli of fifteen was 7-313 inches, the average maximum breadth 

 6-757 inches, the average index of breadth 78-7, vaiyingfrom 72 to 87. The index 

 of height was probably low. The average capacity of ten (measured with rape- 

 seed and Busk's choremometer) was 1366-5 cubic centimetres, equal to a weight of 

 45-G oz. for the true brain-substance, reckoning the sp. gi-. at 1040, and allowing 

 4-5 oz. for the membranes and blood. This is a very low brain-weight, below even 

 that of Dr. Boyd's series of paupers and lunatics. 



Rlialdomancy and Behmancy. By A. W. Bttceund, M.A.I. 



In this paper the author endeavours to show : — 

 _ 1st. From personal observation that Rhabdomancy is still practised in England 

 in certain localities, and that it is a survival of a very ancient superstition ori- 

 ginatin^m the use of rods as symbols of power. 



2nd. That the staff as a sceptre was probably a later form of the horn, which was 

 thus used in very early prehistoric times, and in that character adorned the 

 heads of gods. 



3rd. That from this Use of rods or horns arose ft veneration for them as possessing 

 tne inherent power of healing disease and even of restoring life. Hence their use 

 by magicians m all ages and countries, the chief ihstrtmients employed by them 

 being a ring and n staff and a bifurcated .stick. ' 



