420 



That the writers on the Boetian contractions could have 

 accomplished the solution of intricate fractional questions 

 (entirely dependent on the principle of local position) without 

 the knowledge of the zero, or some arbitrary character to 

 express its situation, appears to me to be quite impossible. 

 Above all, it must be remembered that the abacus was not 

 employed with the Alabaldine notation. 



A paper was read by William R. Wilde, Esq., on the 

 animal remains and antiquities recently found at Dunshaugh- 

 lin, in the county of Meath. 



Surgeon Wilde prefaced his observations by stating, 

 that the communication which he was about to make, on 

 the subject of the vast collection of bones which were recently 

 discovered in the county of Meath, was but introductory 

 to a more detailed description of their zoological and anato- 

 mical characters which he purposed bringing before the 

 Academy at a future meeting. But, having had several 

 opportunities of visiting the spot where these remains were 

 found, and having collected some information upon the 

 subject from the persons who superintended, and others who 

 were actually engaged in making the excavations, he felt it 

 necessary to lay before the Academy a popular description 

 of the place, — in order to show under what circumstances 

 these bones were found, and to enable the members pre- 

 sent to form some idea as to the nature of this very re- 

 markable collection. In addition to this statement of facts, 

 he would likewise exhibit several of the antiquities found 

 in connexion with the animal remains, in the hope that the 

 antiquary and the historian might, from their examination, 

 be enabled to arrive at some probable conclusion as to the 

 date of the construction of this place. 



The following is an extract of Mr. Wilde's statement : 

 " About a mile to the east of the village of Dunshaughlin, 



