THE OVEN-MOUNDS OF THE ABORIGINES IN VICTORIA. 55 
monolithic blocks, 8 or 9 feet high, represented in the illus- 
trated papers of Melbourne and Sydney a few years ago, as existing 
ruidical circles which are found in various places in Britain. 
ConTENTS OF OVEN-MOUNDS. 
The mass of the mound, in accordance with what has been 
already said, obviously consists of ashes, charcoal, stones, and earth. 
The stones, as already pointed out, vary according to the district. 
But besides the materials which, one way or another, have come 
before our notice, we may expect to find remains of the reptiles, 
fishes, birds, and quadrupeds, as well as shells which were used as 
food by the aborigines. No doubt the large number of miserable 
dogs, which constantly kept about the encampments of the blacks, 
would destroy a large quantity of the smaller bones of birds and 
various animals ; still, an examination of the ashes brings to light 
traces of the game used by the aborigines. In some mounds 
about half a mile from the bay at Geelong there are fragments of 
bones and teeth of opossums, as well as bones of kangaroo. This 
mound was 79 feet in diameter, with 5 feet of ashes at the centre. 
Human REMAINS IN OVEN-MOUNDS. 
this hard dome the ashes were quite loose and easily tossed 
about. After prolonged work there was no sign of human 
