386 Chronicles of Science. [July? 



practice what Dr. Langdon Down is theoretically satisfied would be 

 of enormous value to the community, men not being like race-horses 

 or oxen. 



Major W. Eoss King, on May 3rd, communicated an account of 

 the " Aboriginal Tribes of the Nilgiri Hills," known as the Todas, 

 Khotas, Erulas, and Kurumbas, especially noticing the former as 

 the most singular and important. The author described the charac- 

 teristic features and peculiarities of each ; their social customs and 

 religious rites, showing that even in a limited area, like the Nilgiris, 

 several tribes may exist, each preserving its own language and 

 customs ; and all remaining perfectly isolated from the enormous 

 populations of the plains. The presence of Druidical circles, crom- 

 lechs, kistvaens, and tumuli, on the Nilgiri Hills, offers a striking 

 resemblance to those of our own country, and suggests the possibility 

 of an early western migration of pre-historic peoples from this cradle 

 of the East. 



On the 19th May a large gathering of anthropologists and their 

 friends took place at St. James's Hall, to hear Mr. Henry F. 

 Chorley's paper " On Eace in Music." Mr. Dannreuther illustrated 

 the paper by numerous examples on the pianoforte. 



On the 31st May, Dr. John Shortt read a paper " On the Arme- 

 nians of Southern India ;" and Mr. John Stirling " On the Eaces 

 of Morocco." 



The Ancient Cemetery at Frilford.* 



Almost the only source of information we possess capable of being 

 used either to check off, or to throw light upon, the early history 

 of our Eomano-British and Anglo-Saxon ancestors — a well-nigh 

 pre-historic epoch in this country — is derived from a study of the 

 early graves and barrows scattered over this island far and wide, 

 many of which have yielded evidence of the highest import to the 

 historian, archaeologist, and ethnologist. 



In the paper before us, Professor Eolleston has given a most 

 complete and exhaustive memoir upon the remains obtained by him 

 during a two years' exploration of the ancient burying-place at 

 Frilford, near Abingdon, Berkshire. 



The cemetery is situated in the angle between the left bank of 

 the river Ock and the road leading from Frilford to Wantage. 

 Frilford "Field" is now brought under cultivation, but the tra- 



* Although this subject barely comes within the scope of this Chronicle, it is 

 inserted here on account of its connection with Anthropology. 



' Eesearches and Excavations carried on in an Ancient Cemetery at Frilford, 

 near Abingdon (Berkshire), in the years 1867 and 1868.' Communicated to the 

 Society of Antiquaries by George Rolleston, M.D., F.K.S., Linacre Professor of 

 Anatomy and Physiology in the University of Oxford. 1870. 4to, [Keprinted 

 from the * Archaeologia,' vol. xlii., pp. 417-485.] 



