262 



cover such traces ctf the distribution of these animals in the 

 British Isles at a period so remote as the date of this tumulus 

 points to. 



Mr. Wilde recorded the discovery of a small tumulus on the 

 western side of the great mound of New Grange, which had 

 been opened by Lieutenant Newenham two years ago : it was 

 abouteight feetlong^and consisted of a small stonepassage lead- 

 ing into a little chamber, formed on the type of the great barrow 

 in that vicinity. In this was discovered a vast collection of the 

 remains of domestic animals, as well as several human bones, 

 some perfect and others in a half-burned state. What gave 

 particular interest to this excavation was the fact of the stones 

 which lined the floor having been vitrified on the external face, 

 which would lead to the conclusion that the cremation had 

 taken place in the grave : and one of these vitrified stones Mr. 

 Wilde presented to the Academy. 



It is much to be lamented that ignorant persons, or those 

 actuated by mere curiosity, should be allowed to open, and, as 

 is very often the case, destroy those interesting monuments 

 throughout the country, many of which possess an historical 

 as well as an antiquarian and ethnological interest, and are 

 alluded to in the ancient annals.* 



* The following communication has been made to the Secretary by Mr. 

 Wilde. " Some time ago, Arthur R. Nugent, Esq., opened a large sepul- 

 chral mound in the townland of Kintagh, in the neighbourhood of Porta- 

 ferry, whence he writes to me: 'There was a circle of large stones con- 

 taining an area of about a rood. Between each of these flat stones there 

 was a facing of flat ones, similar to the building of our modern fences. 

 The outer covering was coated with white pebbles, averaging the size of 

 a goose-egg, of which there were several cart- loads, — although it would 

 be difficult to collect even a small quantity at present along the beach. 

 After this was taken away, we came to a confused heap of rubbish, stones, 

 and clay, and then some large flag stones on their end, the tumulus still pre- 

 serving a cone-shape. In the centre we came to a chamber about six feet long, 

 formed by eight very large upright stones, with a large flag-stone at the bot- 

 tom, on which lay, in one heap of equal thickness, a mixture of black mould 

 and bones.' These bones, several of which are now in the Museum o Ithg 



