Corres2)ondence— Professor Prestwich. 375 



So far as our present knowledge goes, the so-called Permian rocks 

 of Ano-lesey, Denbighshire, Lebotwood, Shrewsbury, Coalbrookdale 

 Wyre Forest, South Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, and 

 North Staffordshire are all essentially similar; and observers are 

 urged to look out for Coal-seams, plant-remains, and bpirorbis- 



[The next Meeting of the Society will be held on Wednesday, 

 November 6th, 1895.] 



coE<K,Es:E'OiTiD:BiNroE. 



NATUEE AND AET. 

 Sir —It has been suggested (and the belief is held by many) that 

 the asserted flint implements of the Chalk Plateau of Kent may be 

 divided into two groups-one (A) in which the presumed work 

 is referred to the agency of nature, and is therefore non-existent so 

 far as human agency is concerned; and the other (B) of which the 

 Tvork is admitted, but is asserted to be that of PaliBolithic Man, 

 and not therefore belonging to a still older race of Man, to which 

 on o-eological grounds I have assigned them. 



B — It may be admitted as not improbable that some of the more 



hi"-hly finished implements found on the plateau (if not made by 



the more skilful workman of Eolithic Man) may have been the 



work of PalfEolithic Man. But the mere circumstance of their being 



found on the same surface with the plateau implements proves 



nothino-, as flint implements of undoubted Neolithic age are likewise 



found frequently associated with the older plateau as well as with 



PaliKolithic implements on the same surfaces. Further, in a pit 



duo- for the Committee ot the British Association by Mr. Harnson, 



several plateau implements were found in a bed of clay and flints 



at the depth of six feet from the surface, but no implements ot the 



Palseolithic type were met with there. We may presume, therefore, 



that the association of implements of different ages on the surface is 



accidental, and does not always prove that they are contemporaneous. 



With respect to the other question (A), I am at forced issue with 



those who would ascribe any of the forms of the rude plateau flints 



to any natural agency, such as, for example, as has been suggested 



in explanation of one form-that of the action of the waves on the 



shore, or of river-action; and there can be no other. Angular pieces 



of limestone put into a mill come out rounded marbles. In like 



manner the sharp angular fragments of flint exposed to the beating 



of the waves soon lose their sharp angles and become gradually 



more and more worn,, until eventually they are transformed into 



rounded shingle, such as that which may be seen on B lack beat li 



Common and at Bickley station. No other result is possible. Ihis 



fact must have been brought home to many who have lounged 



pleasantly on the sea-beach at Brighton or Dover, but who would 



not find a bank of plateau flints with their sharp angles and many 



points, so well fitted for that purpose. Had it been possible tor 



eea- or river-action to have produced such forms as those i have 



