388 Chronicles of Science. [July, 



hair-pin, coins, &c, which, like the bones and shards specified, would 

 be expected in the rubbish-heap of a great house. The site of the 

 house Mr. Kolleston did not find, but he thinks the quarry, whence 

 the stones for its construction were taken, was converted afterwards 

 into, and is now represented by, one or other or both of the rubbish- 

 pits. 



Professor Eolleston has given most carefully-prepared lists of 

 all the remains found in the various graves which he divides into 

 those : — 



In leaden coffins (Koman period), 6. 



Komano-Britons, 31 men, 22 women. 



Supposed Anglo-Saxons (but without relics), 3 men, 3 women. 



Anglo-Saxons, with relics or in urns, 21 individuals. 



Other skeletons, 15. Children found without relics, 23. 



One of the most striking peculiarities of this series is the very 

 large proportion of aged persons; but a closer inspection shows 

 that the proportion varied most surprisingly in accordance with the 

 nationality. Out of the undoubted Anglo-Saxon interments only 

 two could have been considered old. This may have resulted from 

 the mortality inevitable in the ranks of all successful invading armies, 

 especially such undisciplined troops as composed the Saxon hosts. 



The preponderance of aged Komano-British skeletons may be 

 not only the result of more settled conditions, but may also be ex- 

 plained, Professor Eolleston thinks, by the hypothesis that the 

 young men had been taken away to fight and die in distant countries 

 under such commanders as Magnus Maximus. 



This state of things is well understood in France and elsewhere, 

 where conscription is practised in time of war. 



In discussing the variations in the series of skulls exhumed at 

 Frilford the author well remarks that " most or all invasions entail 

 more or less of intermarriage between the invaders and the invaded ; 

 and the craniographer who considers what very motley hordes passed 

 into England under the names of ' Koman ' and ' Saxon ' respectively, 

 and for what long periods these immigrations continued to be made, 

 will be cautious as to his inferences." 



We might follow Professor Eolleston through the detailed 

 account of this laborious investigation ; the subject is one of deep 

 interest, but we have said sufficient to show the import and nature 

 of the author's researches, and to commend him as a sure and 

 experienced guide, both in archaeological and ethnological inquiries. 

 To those who have not seen the Oxford Museum, the fact of its being 

 the depository for this wonderful series of remains may serve as a 

 further inducement to pay it a visit. 



