Field Note. 327 



because fragments of charcoal have been found on the floors of 

 their dwelling places they knew how to make a -fire. In this 

 connection we would suggest that one of their dwelling plates 

 certainly has not been found in this country, and that the pre- 

 sence of charcoal found on the same layer as the flints is no more 

 proof that both are contemporary than a certain George III. 

 farthing, also found on the same level, is proof that 

 George III. was the pygmy king. In a sandy district such as 

 Scunthorpe, where the surface is constantly changing as a 

 result of the winds, too much reliance must not be placed upon 

 the levels at which objects are found. 



THEIR DWELLINGS, 



The author believes also that the natural conditions at 

 Scunthorpe were formerly like those obtaining in the Ituri 

 forest in Africa to-day ; from which locality, of course. Col. 

 Harrison's pygmies came ^ from. We saw these pygmies, 

 and their spears and other weapons, which were quite as large 

 as those used by other African tribes. We suggested to them 

 (through the interpreter) that they really should only have 

 weapons of flint of an inch or so in length ! W^e shall not soon 

 forget the look of pity which they gave us. We learn from Mr. 

 Hunt that ' the pygmies lived in a warmer atmosphere at 

 Scunthorpe than now exists in England, and that these people 

 lived in communities in mud huts, such as may be seen now 

 among these living survivals of Pygmy people ; they were, in 

 fact. Forest Dwellers.' This statement, unsupported by one 

 jot or tittle of evidence, is a fair sample of this ' contribution to 

 ethnology.' The great array of authorities from Herodotus 

 to the Rev. R. A. Gatty, do not supply one piece of evidence of 

 a Scunthorpe Pygmy race \ that there' are ' pygmy flints ' 

 some may be prepared to admit. The tallest men in the British 

 Army fire small bullets. And the Rev. A. Hunt's skin is (we 

 hope) proof against pin-pricks. 







COLaOPTERA. 



Gracilia minuta L. at Barnsley. — A fine specimen of this 

 small Longicorn flew through the open window into an attic 

 of my house on Sunday morning, July 12th. Apart from the 

 occurrence of this somewhat uncommon species, the incident 

 is worthy of note as showing the height attained during a 

 normal flight, there being no flowers of any kind in the attic to 

 attract flower-loving species. — E. G. Bayford, Barnsley. 



lyoS beptember i. 



