106 



NOTES. 



Dinosaurian Spine from Swindon. In November, 1905, 

 workmen splitting up the higher beds of Portland Rock on the extreme 

 south-western corner of Swindon Hill, by a lucky chance broke a large 

 slab in such a way that the enclosed fossil fell out uninjured. On ex- 

 amination it proved to be a caudal spine, one of a pair from some large 

 reptile. 



It is highly cellular in texture, much like the horn core of a modern 

 ruminant, but in proportion to its length of much stronger build. 



It measures 7in. in length, while the articulating surface is 5in. across. 

 When clothed in its horny sheath it would, of course, have been con- 

 siderably longer. 



It was seen later by Dr. A. Smith- Woodward, F.R.S., and the late 

 Prof. Seeley, F.R.S., who agreed in the opinion that it belongs to an 

 unknown Dinosaur, traces of which have been found at Aylesbury. 



A cast of this specimen has been placed in the Society's Museum at 

 Devizes. 



The original is in my collection. A. D. Passmoee. 



Interment near Old Shepherd's Shore. In November, 



1912, we were told by a shepherd that men digging chalk on the down 

 near Old Shepherd's Shore (at a spot not far from the barrow marked 

 " f " on the Rev. A. C. Smith's " Map," B. VII.) had come upon a burial. 

 On going to the place we found the bones of a skeleton broken up and 

 lying on the bank where they had been thrown by the men. The re- 

 mains of the cist, or grave in which they had lain could still be seen on 

 the face of the diggings ; fortunately the useful chalk had run out in 

 that direction and that part of the quarry had been left undisturbed 

 since the discovery of the burial. The grave was only about 18in. deep 

 under the turf, and some 3ft. in length, so it would appear that the 

 skeleton must have lain in a contracted position. There was no ap- 

 pearance that there had ever been a barrow over it. 



Among the loose soil that had come from the cist we found a pointed 

 bone implement (Fig 3 on plate, p. 110), and lying with the bones were 

 two rough worn hammerstones of sarsen that the shepherd said had been 

 found with the bones. The bones unfortunately had been broken and 

 scattered and were too incomplete to admit of measurement. The bone 

 implement, the hammerstones, and part of the skull and lower jaw have 

 been placed in the Museum. [Mrs.] M. E. Cunnington. 



Coin of Alexander the Great found at Tilshead. 



A small silver coin of Alexander the Great, described by the authorities 

 of the British Museum thus : — 



Ob. Head of Heracles in lion skin, 



Rev. Zeus seated holding eagle, 

 was dug up in an allotment at Tilshead some little time ago. It has 



