DRAKE — HUMAN REMAINS WITH EXTINCT ANIMALS. 



247 



Mephistopheles sits down between the solemn antique sphinxes and 

 boldly questions them, and reads their riddles, even so must we 

 boldly question the bones, &c.,that constantly turn up, and as boldly 

 read their riddles ; and so vague images and gorgeous dreams, that 

 float about like the tremulous sunbeam on the wave, dazzling yet 

 undefined, shall give place to " things of beauty," and so become " a 

 joy for ever." But I have almost lost sight of what I intended to 

 relate, [n sinking a pit for gravel, through mould, clay and sand, a 

 human skull was found by Mr. Chowler, of corn-law protection 

 notoriety, twelve feet below the surface, with bones of Bos, Eleplias, 

 EqtMts, &c. The strata evidently never had been disturbed, but were 

 just as originally deposited. 



Those who fond of archaeology will likewise find in their ramble 

 through the Yale ample gratification : near Bennington is a British 

 encampment, with a circular moat or vallum round, and partly filled 

 with water. I dug out some British pottery, and found some stone 

 foundations formed with Drift from the Oolite, and crammed with 

 fossils : near is also a mound, which I hope to see opened at a future 

 trip. Opposite on the "back bone" of Lincolnshire are extensive 

 remains of another British camp. 



There is no doubt but that the valley of the Trent is exceedingly 

 rich in Drift fossils ; and I firmly believe the delta of the Soar, near 

 Kegworth, where that river made its embouchoure into the Trent, 

 would well repay a little work. Cannot some of your readers buckle 

 on the harness and set to work ? — Yours, &c, Francis Drake, 

 Leicester 



[This communication from our correspondent Mr. Drake, reached 

 us barely in time for press. We hope to give minute details of this 

 important discovery of human-remains in our next number. — 

 Ed. Geol.] 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



THE DARWINIAN THEORY. 



Sir, — I read with some regret the article in your number for April, on the 

 " Darwinian Theory :" not that I would be understood to be in any way opposed 

 to the ventilation and free discussion of any subject fairly within the range of 

 scientific research ; on the contrary, I believe there is no surer method of testing 

 the numerous theories, which now-a-davs so often take the place of facts, than to 

 submit them to the free and open discussion of those who are conversant with the 

 facts which they profess to generalize and explain. Still, when all this allowance 

 has been made, I confess that I do feel some little regret at seeing the modernized 

 Lamarckian Theory of Darwin advocated in the pages of your valuable magazine ; 

 for I cannot forget that this " development" theory would not only not furnish us 

 with an adequate solution of the facts it professes to generalize, since by the direct 

 admission of its advocates, an admission, by the way, which forms one of their 



